Essential education reporting across America

Chronic Absenteeism

A parent and her two children stand outside a Detroit elementary school.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Chronic Absenteeism
How Michigan punishes its poorest families for their students’ low attendance
State policy that cuts off aid has been in effect for at least a decade, even though there’s little evidence it works.
By Koby Levin
 
A board of people seated at a table on a stage in front of a projection screen showing text from a slide show.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Teaching & Classroom
Attendance agents would keep their jobs under latest DPSCD budget proposal
District outlines options for employees who face layoffs to move into different positions
By Ethan Bakuli
 
Parents and students in bright blue and red costumes line up in front of a school mural outside of a brick building.
From Chalkbeat New York Meeting the Moment
Parent coordinators propped up school communities during the pandemic. Many feel undervalued and underpaid.
The role of parent coordinator became more critical and stressful during the pandemic. But salaries for the job, which New York City schools created 20 years ago, have not kept pace.
By Amy Zimmer
 
An elementary-age student writes on a white board in a school classroom.
From Chalkbeat Detroit COVID Stimulus
Detroit school district is pressed for answers on how impending budget cuts will affect staffing
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says officials will host engagement sessions after spring break to share and explain their recommendations.
By Ethan Bakuli
 
A third grade boy sits at the edge of a fountain, smiling toward the camera.
From Chalkbeat New York Chronic Absenteeism
School bus delays help drive chronic absenteeism for students with disabilities, advocates say
Students with disabilities are disproportionately harmed by the hundreds of school buses delayed each day, New York City parents and advocates say. The bus driver shortage has only made things worse.
By Amanda Geduld
 
Students and parents line up on the first day of classes.
From Chalkbeat New York School Enrollment
NYC schools want to boost enrollment. It might prove a major challenge.
Students could have fallen off school rosters for being homeschooled without registering with the state or skipping kindergarten. Others might have disengaged during remote learning or amid mental health struggles.
By Amy Zimmer
 
Students wait outside of Malcolm X Shabazz High School to head home after the school day.
From Chalkbeat Newark Chronic Absenteeism
Is your student facing barriers in getting to school every day? Tell us why.
Newark Public Schools continues to average a 91% daily attendance rate but schools with high average daily attendance may still have a core group of chronically absent students.
By Jessie Gomez
 
School administrators speak with a family on the first day of school as other parents walk by them outside a brick school building.
From Chalkbeat New York Meeting the Moment
Tell us: How has your relationship to school changed since the pandemic started?
Chalkbeat wants to hear from you. How has your relationship with your school community changed since the roller coaster ride of campus closures and openings?
By Amy Zimmer and Caroline Bauman
 
A woman wearing a plaid top teaches a class to a group of high school students.
From Chalkbeat Newark Chronic Absenteeism
Newark high school students can earn hockey tickets, gift cards in campaign to fight chronic absenteeism
A new partnership between Newark and the Devils Youth Foundation aims to raise attendance in four high schools.
By Jessie Gomez
 
A gavel sits on a white table as shadows loom underneath.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools Inspector General’s annual report is out. Here are five highlights.
In 2022, investigators found dozens of instances of sexual misconduct and abuse, schools mislabeling truants as transfers, a surge in overtime payments, and an end to automatic JROTC enrollment.
By Becky Vevea, Mauricio Peña, and 2 more
 
An arial view of Rikers Island with its dozens of white buildings scattered on the land.
From Chalkbeat New York Chronic Absenteeism
Rikers fails to make the grade: Lockdowns and other restrictions stifle attendance at its East River Academy
Only about 46% of the roughly 200 students enrolled in East River were attending daily as of November, officials said.
By Liz Rosenberg, NYCity News Service
 
Three young students sit together at four desks and work on computers while a teacher stands behind to supervise them. One desk is empty.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Chronic Absenteeism
Illinois students struggled to show up to classes last year due to COVID-19 and mental health
Chronic absenteeism in Illinois rose to about 30% from 17.5% in 2019. Educators, researchers, and advocates blame the rise in COVID-19 cases, mental health, and struggling to adjust to classrooms after remote learning.
By Samantha Smylie
 
A woman stands with her two daughters and another woman at a city bus stop.
From Chalkbeat New York Chronic Absenteeism
As family homelessness climbs, calls grow louder for solving school attendance woes
For New York City’s nearly 30,000 students in shelters, getting to school is often a problem. Advocates are calling for an inter-agency task force focused on reducing chronic absenteeism among homeless kids.
By Reema Amin
 
Icon-heart-donate
If you value Chalkbeat, consider making a donation
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to providing the information families and educators need, but this kind of work isn’t possible without your help.
icon-events

Connect with your community

Find upcoming events

Events