Where are they?

In Harlem it’s asthma. In Philadelphia it’s taking care of younger siblings. In Texas it’s visiting relatives in Mexico. The root of chronic absence is different across different cities and regions. In September, I wrote about what children miss in school when they are absent. Lately, in addition to thinking about what students miss, I have begun to think deeply about the causes of chronic absence and about how to support families, schools, and communities that are struggling with chronic absence. The report on chronic absenteeism by Hedy Chang I referenced in September indicates that chronic absence has been largely overlooked because high attendance rates “mask significant numbers of chronically absent students.” If we are to close the achievement gap in this country we must address chronic absenteeism, particularly in the crucial developmental years.

The report puts forth a universal course of action to address chronic absence but recognizes that absenteeism does not have a one-size fits all solution. I am convinced that within a broad framework schools, school districts, and communities must customize solutions not only for their city, town, or region but for specific families. Schools, in partnership with their District, and with the community, must sit down with families to figure out why a child is missing school and how to ensure that child gets to school. For children with health issues, we must figure out a way to connect them to a medical home; for children who must take care of younger siblings, we must help families figure out another way to obtain childcare; and for students who miss school to visit family members in other states or countries, we must figure out a way to ensure that a child’s academics are not interrupted. The time has come to address this issue – we can no longer afford to ignore the empty seats in our classrooms across the country.