Every Student Present

What is chronic absence?

Chronic absence is when students are absent for 10% or more school days.  This includes excused and unexcused absences.

What is the impact of chronic absence?

Various research studies have shown that chronic absence is detrimental for students at all grade levels and all income levels.  Students who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to be able to read at grade level.   By sixth grade, chronic absence is one of three early warning signs that a student will drop out of high school; by ninth grade, attendance can be a better indicator of dropout than eighth grade test scores. 

How does chronic absence differ from average daily attendance or truancy?

Chronic absence refers to the portion of students missing at least 10% of school days for any reason (excused or unexcused) and in any timeframe (consecutive or non-consecutive days). In contrast, average daily attendance refers to the percent of enrolled students who attend school each day. This could mean that a large number of the students miss a few days of school or that a small number of students miss many days of school. Average daily attendance masks chronic absence since we don’t know what the circumstances are behind the rate.  Truancy refers only to the number of unexcused absences.  Yet, we know that missing instruction can impede learning, regardless of whether it is due to an excused or unexcused absence.