Over 1.8M California students chronically absent due to pandemic.
More than 1.8 Million Students in California Chronically Absent Since COVID-19 Pandemic
According to a recent report, over 1.8 million students in California have become chronically absent since the COVID-19 pandemic. This alarming increase in chronic absenteeism poses a threat to academic recovery, as stated by Stanford University professor Thomas S. Dee, who published a report on the issue.
The study reveals a significant jump in chronically absent students, from 744,000 in 2018–19 to 1.8 million in the 2021–22 school year. With 5.8 million K–12 students enrolled in California during that same year, the statewide rate of chronic absenteeism more than doubled from 12.1 percent to 30 percent.
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Collaborating with Mr. Dee, education news website EdSource provided California chronic absenteeism data for the research. Their interactive breakdown of California data shows that chronic absenteeism has increased in nearly every district in the state.
In the report, Mr. Dee dismisses COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, such as mask and vaccine mandates, as potential reasons for the spike in chronic absenteeism. He suggests that while sickness may have contributed to some absences, other substantive and enduring factors are at play. These factors include access to transportation, academic engagement, and declines in youth mental health, which may vary from district to district based on demographics.
While significant investments have been made to help students recover academically, Mr. Dee emphasizes that the most crucial factor is keeping kids in school. Consistent school attendance is essential for students, especially those who are most educationally vulnerable, to access the necessary support and resources.
However, the San Diego Unified School District, which experienced a threefold spike in chronically absent students, attributes most of their absences to COVID-19 or other illnesses. The district also acknowledges that poor mental health, housing and food insecurities, unmet transportation needs, and inflation contribute to some absences.
The district’s chronic absenteeism rate nearly tripled from 12.4 percent in 2019 to 33.7 percent in 2022. To address this issue, the district has created new positions dedicated to reaching out to families, conducting home visits, and identifying support and resources to help students return to school.
Similarly, Los Angeles Unified, the state’s largest district, had a chronic absenteeism rate of 40 percent in the 2021–22 school year. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho developed an outreach campaign where he, along with trustees, administrators, counselors, and staff, goes door-to-door to meet chronically absent students and their families, providing support and encouragement.
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