Raising attendance and improving learning outcomes begins “here.”
Chronic Absenteeism
A Chronically Absent Child Is Missing Out on More Than Learning
Chronic Absenteeism
A Chronically Absent Child Is Missing Out on More Than Learning
Raising attendance and improving learning outcomes begins “here.”
Uncovering the Cause
Reducing chronic absenteeism begins with understanding and addressing the root causes. We work with districts to first uncover why students are missing school and plan for how to get them back.
Understanding the Impact
An Empty Seat Is a Child in Need
Missing 10% of school days or more has a significant and cumulative impact on a child’s life and has been linked to not only reduced academic achievement1, but also:
- Social disengagement and feelings of alienation
- Increased frequency of disruptive behavior
- Strained relationships with teachers
- Adverse health outcomes and poverty in adulthood
1. Balfanz, R., & Byrnes, V. (2012). The importance of being in school: A report on absenteeism in the nation’s
public schools. The Education Digest.
Did You Know?
66% of enrolled students attended a school with high or extreme levels of chronic absenteeism in 2021–2022.
—Chang, H. (2024). Rising tide of chronic absence challenges schools. Attendance Works.
When Some Students Are Chronically Absent, All Students Pay the Price
In some districts, as little as a 1% shift in student attendance can equate to millions of dollars in lost operating funding2. In all districts, its impact is significant, affecting everyone in the classroom3:
- Absence-related funding losses can result in larger class sizes and fewer teachers.
- Extra resources are often required to support students who missed lessons.
- Teachers take on increased workloads trying to catch up with absent students.
- Other students experience disruptions and delays to their learning.
2. Lieberman, M. (2024). Why chronic absenteeism is a budget problem, too. Education Week.
3. Institute of Education Sciences (2021). Evidence-Based Practices Related to Chronic Absenteeism.
Planning the Response
The Response Approach
Recent research demonstrates a strong correlation between family engagement and chronic absenteeism rates. One study demonstrated that schools with strong preexisting family engagement experienced a 39% lower rate of chronic absenteeism in 2021–2022 than similar schools with weaker family engagement.
Students with engaged families and communities have:
Better attendance records
Better grades
Higher standardized
test scores
More positive attitudes
Higher graduation rates
Our comprehensive approach to raising attendance brings families, schools, and communities together to improve academic outcomes and create a literacy ecosystem where everyone feels seen and heard.
How effective are your family and community engagement initiatives?
The Response in Practice
The most successful districts treat family and community engagement as a key part of their overall instructional strategy, not a separate initiative. And we’ve partnered with many of them. Our shared approach to this work centers on four research-backed practices.
Elevate Staff
Empower Families
Welcome and Engage All
Partner with Community
Elevate Staff
and build strong, trusting relationships with students and families centered on academic outcomes.
“Scholastic provided customized professional development, laying the foundation that parent and family engagement is an instructional strategy. In addition, they provided an ongoing support system fostering reflection of practice as well as implementation of new learning by providing individualized coaching.”
— Margo Vogelpohl, Director, Title I and Prekindergarten Programs, Round Rock Independent School District
Aligned Solutions and Services
Consultative Planning and Coaching
Work with our specialists to develop a strategic family engagement plan that drives student achievement.
Family Engagement Assessment
Measure and improve your family engagement capacity through a collaborative, data-driven process.
Dr. Karen L. Mapp’s Family Engagement Series
Develop a plan to build relational trust with families in this workshop series created by a renowned Harvard professor.
Family and Community Engagement Professional Learning Courses
Elevate your staff’s family engagement expertise with courses for new and experienced educators alike.
Empower Families
with the tools, resources, and confidence to participate in and support their child’s learning.
“Families are learning and having critical conversations about things that they can do to not only supplement what their children are learning in school, but how to be a part of the academic process with their child.”
— Jessica V. Dreher, Ed.D., Director of Student Services, Thomasville City Schools
Aligned Solutions and Services
Read and Rise
Events that show families how their culture supports literacy growth.
My Books Every Day
A books-to-home program that promotes home-school connections.
School Readiness Kits
English/Spanish kits to prepare families and kids for kindergarten.
School Success Kits
English/Spanish family resources to support learning in K–1.
Grab and Go Take-Home Packs
Books and literacy activities for effective home libraries.
Welcome and Engage
all students and their families through responsive learning environments and take-home resources.
“The protagonist in every story [in the Rising Voices: Empowering Girls in STEAM Library] is a girl or a woman. I think that’s great, because it gives the girls a feeling of pride and it also encourages them in knowing that they can do any and everything.”
—Dr. Emma Epps, NABSEF Chair, retired Superintendent, Ecorse Public Schools, Ecorse, MI
Aligned Solutions and Services
Rising Voices
Libraries and instructional resources that spotlight underrepresented voices.
Our Stories Decodables
Culturally relevant decodables and targeted phonics practice.
Our Community: Haitian Heritage
Culturally relevant books in English/Haitian Creole and English.
Byron V. Garrett Life and Literacy Skills Library
Libraries that integrate life skills into literacy instruction.
Culturally Responsive Collections
Books with positive representation for all.
Scholastic Literacy Pro
Ebook library and reading management tool with robust data.
Partnering with Community
and organizations to expand literacy and responsive instruction.
“The R.E.A.L. program has shifted the culture in the classroom. The volunteers bring fresh energy, patience, and enthusiasm to our school. Our students enjoy the read-alouds and the teachers enjoy a break, which helps manage burnout.”
— Phyllis McKissack, Family Resource Coordinator, Harrison Elementary School, Lexington, KY
Aligned Solutions and Services
Scholastic R.E.A.L.
Recruit and equip reading mentors from your community with our literacy-based mentorship program.
Read and Rise
Events that show families how their culture supports literacy growth.
Scholastic Literacy Events
Everything you need to lead an effective family literacy event.
