Why Is Chronic Absenteeism on the Rise?

With chronic absenteeism reaching historic levels over the past few years, districts across the country are grappling with the consequences, and seeking effective ways to ensure more consistent attendance and engagement.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of a school year, or about 18 to 20 days total, for any reason, and it leads to academic struggles and gaps in social development. To provide an understanding of factors contributing to absenteeism, and insights that can help districts combat it, the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® has released a new white paper, “Addressing Chronic Absenteeism in Schools Nationwide.”

For a preview, read the excerpt below.

Understanding Absenteeism as a Problem for Everyone

The numbers are startling. According to data from the American Enterprise Institute, a leading public policy think tank, the share of U.S. students who are chronically absent has increased dramatically in recent years to 28% during the 2021-22 school year and 26% through the 2022-23 school year.

This is double the share seen before the pandemic.

Complicating matters is research that has found increased student absences can lead to even more absenteeism among classmates. In fact, when “10 percent of a student’s classmates are absent on a given day, that student is more likely to be absent the following day.”

This is concerning, as there exists a well-established body of research that links chronic absenteeism with a higher risk of adverse outcomes including diminished health, a greater likelihood of incarceration and fewer job opportunities.

These increases in absenteeism are occurring in districts big and small, and across all races and income levels.

“The problem got worse for everybody in the same proportional way,” said Nat Malkus, the senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute responsible for collecting the data.

In an article published in The New York Times titled “Why School Absences Have ‘Exploded’ Almost Everywhere,” Sarah Mervosh and Francesca Paris explore the multilayered and nuanced reasons for this phenomenon.

Through their extensive research and interviews with educators and district administrators, the authors found a variety of factors negatively impacting student attendance. These included an increase in students grappling with mental health challenges, more students taking care of their younger siblings and even a surge in families opting for vacations during the school year.

Katie Rosenbaum, a psychologist and associate research professor with the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University, summarized the post-COVID educational landscape succinctly: “Our relationship with school became optional.”

Read the Full White Paper Today

To read this report in its entirety, including a look at how one district embraced invention education to boost engagement and attendance, visit our website.