Teacher Tea
The Silent Epidemic
Why is absenteeism on the rise in U.S. public schools?
In Kappan’s “No One-Size-Fits-All Solution to Chronic Absenteeism,” Thomas S. Dee discusses the significant rise in chronic absenteeism among U.S. students post-pandemic. While various strategies can address this issue, Dee writes about the need for low-cost, evidence-based solutions tailored to specific community needs.
He outlines a three-step continuous improvement approach that begins with identifying local attendance barriers through structured assessments, then forming a team to manage the improvement process, and finally, implementing Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to test and refine solutions.
Dee also reports on the potential of low-cost messaging strategies, such as mail-based messages and text messages, as effective ways to engage families and reduce chronic absenteeism. These strategies have shown promising results in various studies.
Ultimately, the main crux of this article lies in the importance of a tailored, data-driven approach to address chronic absenteeism, focusing on evidence-based solutions that align with the unique needs of each community.
Chronic absenteeism directly impacts student learning and achievement, and it leads to significant academic gaps and ultimately, lower graduation rates. Teachers are in a position to create a more positive learning environment for all students by addressing absenteeism, alongside administrators and families.