As students across the country return to school, it is an important opportunity to promote school attendance so children can thrive. That is why September has been designated as Attendance Awareness Month – to highlight why maintaining attendance in school is essential for academic and lifelong success. During the 2021 – 2022 school year, nearly 30% of students in the United States were chronically absent (missing 10% or more of school for any reason). Nationally, chronic absenteeism nearly doubled from 2019 to 2022 and it has only declined slightly in the last two years. That makes chronic absenteeism one of the biggest challenges facing public K-12 schools. Kaiser Permanente is excited to partner with Attendance Works on efforts to reduce the health-related causes of chronic absence.
Students who are healthy and feel engaged are much more likely to attend school, are better able to stay focused and engaged, and are more likely to achieve academically. These same successful learners are more likely to graduate and go on to higher education, which is strongly associated with lower incidence of disease and longer lives for adults.
For many children, poor health and undiagnosed conditions can cause too many absences. Even when absences are excused, missing too much school can lead children to fall behind. Physical health challenges, such as asthma or unmet oral health needs have been the leading causes of health-related school absenteeism. Students with ADHD, autism, or developmental delays are also more likely to be chronically absent compared to kids without these conditions.
More recently, by analyzing data from school-based health centers, The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health found that anxiety, depression, and mental health are currently the top health-related drivers of absenteeism in those schools. A recent Youth Trust Survey of 500,000 students found that 48% reported that depression, anxiety, and stress are making it difficult for them to do well in school, which is a substantial increase from 39% in 2020.
The good news is that we can take action to reduce health-related absences and help families and students understand that regular attendance promotes their health and well-being.
What can district and school leaders do?
- Make room to talk with parents/caregivers and students about the value of good attendance for their health, well-being, and academic success during back-to-school events, school rallies, and other activities. Share these family handouts with parents and caregivers for preschool through grade 12.
- Promote strategies for keeping kids healthy so they don’t miss school, such as getting adequate nutrition and exercise, maintaining good hygiene, and supporting healthy rest and sleep.
- Share information about available community resources and remind families to visit their health care provider for annual physicals and all recommended immunizations. Encourage families to schedule non-urgent medical appointments outside of school hours and to return to school if appointments are earlier in the day.
- Help families avoid unnecessary absences by offering clear guidance on when a child should stay home when sick. Attendance Works, in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and National Association of School Nurses, has developed family handouts with this guidance.
- Equip families to recognize and address when students are feeling ill because of reasons like anxiety, depression, or lack of nutrition. The aforementioned family handouts also cover this information.
- Ensure that educators and staff are aware of students who have chronic illnesses such as asthma or diabetes. Make sure plans are in place to support these health needs while students are at school.
- Establish a school or district health team that regularly assesses school health needs. Use this School-Based Health Program Self-Assessment tool to assess what policies and practices you can adopt to reduce school absences.
- Work with local pediatricians or clinics to schedule non-urgent appointments with students outside of school hours. Encourage them to talk to caregivers and students about the many benefits – social, emotional, behavioral, and academic – students gain from attending school. Share the Making the Case for Health Providers handout, with tips on how health providers can get involved.
- Advocate for school health supports, including school nurses and behavioral health therapists, who can help families and students navigate their health issues and ensure they receive appropriate health-related resources.
Additional Resources:
- For districts, schools & community partners: Tips For Keeping Students Healthy
- Keep Your Child Healthy and in School
- Chronic Conditions and School
- Health Guidance for Going to School
