Topic

Chronic Absenteeism

Schools and districts across California are looking for models to bring students back to school. Students are labeled chronically absent if they miss at least 10 percent of the school year, or approximately 18 days. Missing school can have adverse consequences for a child as early as kindergarten. A growing body of research shows students with high rates of absenteeism are less likely to be able to read at grade level by the end of the 3rd grade, are more likely to drop out in high school and are less successful in college.

March 14, 2020

Gov. Newsom assures school districts they'll be funded during coronavirus closures

In exchange for the money, districts should provide online learning, and independent study "to the extent feasible," which is puzzling to some.

John Fensterwald

December 12, 2019

Some ratings rise in 3rd year of California School Dashboard

Fewer districts will require help from county offices, but colors tell a bigger story; disparities among student groups persist.

John Fensterwald

December 3, 2019

Multiple school transfers contribute to high absenteeism among foster students

Foster students miss the most school days of any group of students in the state.

Ashley A. Smith

May 31, 2019

Lost Days: Inside one rural California district’s effort to combat chronic absenteeism

In Paradise Unified, where the chronic absenteeism rate is 18 percent, Dena Kapsalis does what it takes to get students to come to school.

David Washburn

May 30, 2019

Lost days: Poverty, isolation drive students away from school in California's rural districts

Students who miss at least 10 percent of the school year are chronically absent and in danger of dropping out. It’s a statewide problem most acute in rural areas.

David Washburn

May 30, 2019

Lost Days: Chronic Absenteeism in Rural California [VIDEO]

A window into Northern California's Butte County, where geography and family trauma often keep students from school. The problem has been magnified by the wildfire that devastated the town of Paradise.

Jennifer Molina

May 30, 2019

Interactive Map: California's chronically absent students in 2017-18

View EdSource's interactive map showing the chronic absenteeism rates for school districts across California. The highest rates - higher than 10 percent - are clustered in rural areas.

Yuxuan Xie And Daniel J. Willis

April 19, 2019

As a candidate for president, Harris taking a softer stance on truancy than she did as a prosecutor

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris championed tough-on-truancy laws while serving as San Francisco’s district attorney and California attorney general. Now she's taking heat for it on the campaign trail.

David Washburn

April 4, 2019

Better data helps San Diego schools more effectively address chronic absenteeism

Effective use of data can help schools do more of what works and less of what doesn’t, authors say.

Debbie Lieberman and Tia Anzellotti

February 10, 2019

Kamala Harris’s stance on truancy resurfaces as she launches presidential campaign

A 2010 video clip of California senator and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris advocating the prosecution of parents for their children's truancy has re-ignited controversy as schools statewide face greater scrutiny for their rates of chronic absenteeism.

David Washburn

January 31, 2019

Searchable database: Chronic absenteeism in California schools

Search EdSource's database to find the chronic absenteeism rate (the percentage of students who miss 10 percent or more of instructional days) for all California schools by grade level.

Daniel J. Willis

January 31, 2019

Chronic absenteeism in California schools up slightly, new data show

More than 1 in 10 students statewide were chronically absent from school in 2017-18. Rates for students in marginalized groups much higher than the state average.

David Washburn

January 15, 2019

Help EdSource shine a light on challenges in rural education

Our newsroom wants to tell the stories of students and their families in rural California who are suffering from high rates of chronic absenteeism, and help in the search for solutions.

David Washburn

December 6, 2018

Ratings in updated California School Dashboard target more districts for assistance

Two near indicators – chronic absenteeism and college/career readiness – debut and reemphasize the need to boost attendance of younger students and better prepare high schoolers for post-graduation.

John Fensterwald

November 28, 2018

California school districts to get ‘wake-up call’ with new absenteeism measures

At least 40 percent of California school districts and charter schools have rates of chronic absence in grades K-8 that are high or very high based on new performance measures that will be unveiled next month.