Critical Update to Statewide Chronic Absence Data Analysis

In October, SI&A ran a preliminary analysis of chronic absence data for SY2020-21 assessing how school closures and virtual learning environments were affecting student attendance. The results were alarming but expected. Thousands upon thousands of students were simply not participating.

To see what has happened since then, we re-ran the 350K student dataset through year-end, December 2020.

We know that it is never too late to help a child. Districts can halt additional absences from accruing this year.

This Thursday (01/28), my colleague, Brenda Tapp and I will be presenting the updated findings live at the California Department of Education’s School Attendance Review Board Meeting at 10:00 AM PST. Thank you to the CDE for inviting us to share this critical data analysis. The meeting is open to the public and I encourage anyone in attendance to share these findings with your school board and leadership teams as comparative benchmark data and to evaluate your LEA’s patterns and trends.

We know that it is never too late to help a child. Districts can halt additional absences from accruing this year. The data proves that MTSS tier-1 interventions, when done well, are incredibly effective. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom this Thursday!

P.S. If you have not registered for Wednesday’s webinar with Attendance Works, Richardson Independent SD and SI&A, there is still time. Register here.