In Reading, Massachusetts, chronic absenteeism in schools continues to be an issue, challenging administrators and teachers to keep students engaged and in school.
Chronic absenteeism remains among the most pressing issues in the American education system. Every day, millions of students nationwide miss school. According to data collected by the Associated Press and Stanford University educational economist Thomas Dee, in the 2022-23 school year, one in four students were chronically absent in America, meaning they missed 10% or more of the school year. The primary source of this problem seems to be the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every state but one has seen its chronic absenteeism rate increase by six points or more from 2018 to 2023 and in Massachusetts, the chronic absenteeism rate has grown 9.3% from its pre-pandemic level.
At Reading Memorial High School, administrators and teachers are devoted to fighting this issue. Assistant Principal Flanagan reported that the chronic absenteeism rate in Reading as of September 13th is 3.8% and that 1.5% of students are set to miss 20% of the school year. While these rates do outperform most schools in the state and the country, school administrators are still concerned about chronic absenteeism and its effects on students.
For Ms. Flanagan, chronic absenteeism is more than just missing class. She says, “It’s not just time away from your classroom and from learning, but it’s time away from your friends, your community, activities, you’re just missing out on a lot of things going on in the building.” Students who are chronically absent not only fall behind on their school work, but they can quickly become disconnected from others, making them even less likely to want to attend school regularly.
Mr. McIntire of the Science Department notes that absences aren’t always in students’ control. “I think that it’s good to have the attitude of trying to get to school whenever you can, but some absences can’t be prevented, so it’s trying to get to school but understanding that there are lots of good reasons to not be at school that can’t be prevented.” Many chronically absent students have larger roles and responsibilities within their homes, causing them to miss school frequently. Others face mental health issues like anxiety and depression that make it difficult to come to school every day.
The real question lies in how to combat and prevent chronic absenteeism. Schools across the country have tried many different ways to get more kids in the classroom. Medford High in Medford, Massachusetts, for example, offered organized sports during lunch to those who attended all their classes. Other schools, like some in Oakland, California, offered mentorship and mental health check-ins with students who struggle with absenteeism.
At RMHS, school officials are toiling over this same question. According to Ms. Flanagan, “[The school] is working really hard to keep the classes engaging and build a really positive environment where kids feel supported going to school and want to be a part of school… I think building culture is a big piece of it.”
No matter the method, the goal is clear: make schools a safe and enjoyable place for all students.
