By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
On Monday, Instruction and Systems Coach Carrie Duba gave a presentation about student attendance and, in particular, chronic absences to the Northfield School Board. Students who miss 10% of school days, which is only 2 days per month, are considered chronically absent, and the report shows that being chronically absent can negatively impact academic outcomes. Duba said the missed days can add up quickly:
“They add up quickly. This is the information that we have to give families is it feels like a day here, a day there, but pretty soon you’ve reached the threshold that research has shown starts to impact educational performance in reading and math and most importantly, how to be a student are students who are chronically absent report less connectedness than our students who are here all the time.” – Instruction and Systems Coach Carrie Duba at the Northfield School Board Meeting on 10/14/2024
MCA scores for chronically absent students are, on average, about 20% lower, and they are three times more likely to receive a D or F grade in class than other students.
Currently, in the Northfield Public Schools, 13% of students are chronically absent, and four main groups struggle with attendance. Kindergarteners are chronically absent more than other grades, usually due to illness; starting school can be harder on their immune systems than other students. Students of Color, Multilingual students, and Low-Income Students are also more likely to be chronically absent. The district conducted surveys and focus meetings to learn more about the issue, and Duba noted a few major themes
“And we reflected on the information that we got from our family focused meetings and here’s what we learned. Families need help. Families need information. Then the family engagement model is effective and we are lacking support at a secondary level.” – Instruction and Systems Coach Carrie Duba at the Northfield School Board Meeting on 10/14/2024
Some of the reasons cited for chronic absenteeism are transportation, a lack of medical insurance, academic and mental health concerns, limited awareness of attendance expectations, and a lack of information about how to get help and support.
Northfield schools have responded to the issue by hiring family navigators to visit families’ homes to provide support and be a trusted resource for families. The family navigators offer support and connect families with school districts and community resources to help them attend school. Recently, the district hired a family navigator focused on 7th – 10th graders, an age which Duba cites is particularly important for providing support for any issues.
The district has found that the family navigators have helped reduce the amount of chronic absences by 25%.
View the full presentation below:
