Do you struggle with chronic absenteeism in your school or district? Chronic absenteeism has long been a concern for educators, but recent data suggests its impact is more profound than previously understood.
According to a recent article from K-12 Dive, the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that chronic absenteeism significantly contributed to recent declines in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores. Specifically, absenteeism could account for 16-27% of the overall NAEP score declines in math and 36-45% in reading.
The reasons for student absenteeism vary, from declining social, emotional, or physical health to familial responsibilities. However, the overarching message is clear: for your students to recover from the disruptions of the pandemic, they need to be present in school.
Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive, “all-hands-on-deck” approach. Let’s look at ways your school or district can address this growing issue.
Early Intervention and Assessments
Early identification is one of the first steps in addressing chronic absenteeism in K-12 schools. Your school needs robust systems to monitor attendance and identify students at risk of becoming chronically absent. Regular assessments, such as universal screeners, can help you understand the root causes of absenteeism for individual students, whether academic, social, or health-related.
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) is a proactive approach that provides targeted student support based on individual needs. Using a tiered system of support helps your school offer general support to all students, more targeted interventions to those at risk, and intensive interventions to those facing significant challenges. This system ensures that students receive the right level of support at the right time, helping you address the cause of absenteeism before it escalates to jeopardizing a student’s academic performance.
Holistic Approaches to Student Well-being
Beyond academic support, consider the whole child, including addressing social-emotional needs, mental health, and physical well-being. Adopt programs that promote mindfulness, resilience, emotional intelligence, and student well-being to equip students with the tools they need to navigate challenges, reduce the likelihood of chronic absenteeism, and improve academic and social-emotional competencies.
While many strategies exist to address chronic absenteeism, leveraging online therapy and school-wide wellness solutions like eLuma can offer your school a specialized and practical approach.
How eLuma Addresses Chronic Absenteeism
At eLuma, a leading online therapy and school-wide wellness provider for K-12 schools, we are uniquely positioned to help schools like yours tackle the challenge of chronic absenteeism. By partnering with your school district, our services ensure all students reach their full potential through comprehensive solutions based on your school’s unique needs. We provide school-based teletherapists and counselors to address provider shortages, identify at-risk students, and implement MTSS strategies and consultation to maximize effectiveness.
While the challenge of chronic absenteeism is significant, with the right tools and strategies, you can ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed. eLuma stands ready to support your district in this mission, providing the individual and school-based solutions necessary to address the root causes of absenteeism and promote student well-being.
Ready to transform your school’s approach to chronic absenteeism? Explore how our customized online therapy and school-wide wellness solutions can address chronic absenteeism in your school. Schedule your free consultation today.