We speak with Hedy N. Chang of Attendance Works, who describes the long-term impact on student success of chronic absence in all grades. Framing chronic absence as a truancy issue can increase alienation from school. Distinctions between excused and unexcused absences can unfairly penalize low-income students and students of color. Chronic absence rates may hit 40% this year. Ms. Chang discusses relationship-based strategies for mitigating absenteeism.
Overview
00:00-00:37 Intros
00:37-01:39 Definition of chronic absenteeism
01:39-04:04 How absenteeism has been viewed historically
04:04-06:16 Truancy
06:16-08:57 Reporting and monitoring chronic absences
08:57-14:37 Pandemic absenteeism rates
14:37-19:22 Absenteeism and return to schools in 2021-22
19:22-21:32 Attendance promotion strategies
21:32-25:42 Excused and unexcused absences; biases in classification
25:42-28:33 Impact of chronic absences on graduation
28:33-31:26 Strategies for understanding and overcoming barriers to attendance
31:26-36:41 Team approaches
36:41-40:01 Virtual schools—challenges and possibilities
40:01-42:18 Tiered approach
42:18- Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.
References
The authors of a recent Chalkbeat analysis discuss the Department of education’s 2023 high school survey, which shows girls, especially girls of color, have...
We speak with Monica Chen, veteran teacher and executive director of Factory Farming Awareness Coalition. Monica tells us how cow’s milk became a staple...
David Adams is Director of Social Emotional Learning at NYC’s Urban Assembly, a network of schools that does not screen students. David focuses on...
