--- title: 'Chronic absenteeism: What you need to know' description: Learn about the problem of chronic school absenteeism. Find out how frequent school absences affect struggling students and what parents can do to help. slug: chronic-absenteeism-what-you-need-to-know author: Kate Kelly reviewer: Robert Balfanz, PhD published: '2019-08-05T15:44:32.297Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/42928598E661498989F5DF59B9B20804/b51be5d268400a4b9618a0b3d1245bc0/i14391433.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/chronic-absenteeism-what-you-need-to-know lang: en --- # Chronic absenteeism: What you need to know [![Video](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/RXhNluZQvP4/sddefault.webp)](https://www.youtube.com/embed/RXhNluZQvP4) Many parents may not realize how often their child is absent from school. A missed day here and there may not seem like a big deal compared to missing several days in a row. But missing just two days a month can add up to a child being considered chronically absent. Chronic absences keep kids from getting the consistent instruction they need to build on basic skills. For kids with learning and thinking differences, there’s something else to consider: Frequent absences not only mean less instruction, but also missed opportunities for [intervention](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/instructional-intervention-what-you-need-to-know), reteaching, and enrichment. Learn more about the problem of chronic absenteeism. ## What is chronic absenteeism? Some states define chronic absenteeism as missing more than 10 percent of the school year. In some states, missing 18 or more days means a child is chronically absent. In other states, it’s 15 or more days. Chronic absenteeism includes excused absences (like for being sick). It also includes unexcused absences and disciplinary actions, like getting suspended. Missing a certain number of days — for any reason — triggers schools to start a truancy process. This involves documenting attendance and filing a report with a state agency, local school district, and law enforcement. ## How many kids frequently miss school — and why [More than 15 percent](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/taking-attendance-seriously-in-the-new-civil-rights-data-collection/) of all students in the United States are chronically absent. Among students in special education, that number is significantly higher. A nationwide study found that kids with issues like ADHD, autism, or developmental delays are twice as likely to be chronically absent compared to kids who don’t have these issues. (Open a [PDF of the study](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr118.pdf).) [Social anxiety](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/anxiety-why-its-different-from-stress) is one of the biggest reasons kids don’t come to school. Academic struggles and [being bullied](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/bullying-fact-sheet) are also common reasons kids avoid school. If kids feel like they’re not wanted at school, if they’re constantly failing, or if they’re fearful of their peers, they may try to get out of going to school. Likewise, if kids don’t feel understood, or if they’re bored by classes, or [constantly being disciplined](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-suspensions-take-a-toll-on-kids-with-ieps-and-504-plans), they may start to resist going to school. Low-income students often miss school for other reasons, too. These include issues with health care, housing, and transportation. ## The impact of missing school Missing school in the early grades can have a snowball effect. It sets kids up to fall behind in the [fundamental reading skills](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/reading-skills-what-to-expect-at-different-ages) they need in order to move on to more complicated work. Research shows how big the impact can be. A study in California looked at kids who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade. By the end of third grade, only one in six of them were proficient readers. But of the kids who missed less than 5 percent of school, two-thirds were proficient. (See a [PDF of the study](https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-lets-focus-on-chronic-absenteeism/2012/01).) For some kids, frequent absences can become a long-term habit. Research shows that kids who are allowed to miss school when they’re young are more likely to skip school when they’re older. And that can lead to other consequences. Being chronically absent affects high school graduation rates and the chances for success in college. In a Rhode Island study ([PDF here](https://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Absenses-Add-Up_September-3rd-2014.pdf)), only 11 percent of high school students with chronic absences made it to their second year of college. That’s compared to 51 percent of students who didn’t miss that much school. ## How absences affect kids with learning and thinking differences Struggling students may want to stay home because of the stress they’re feeling at school. But chronic absences may have an even bigger impact on kids with learning and thinking differences. It can be hard enough to master the lessons in school with the support of the teacher or aide. Trying to do it at home can make the work even harder. Plus, each day of learning builds on the previous day. When kids miss a few days in a row, it can be hard to follow subsequent lessons. And when kids aren’t in school, they’re missing opportunities to be identified for intervention and extra supports. ## Efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism Chronic absenteeism used to be a hidden problem. But the [Every Student Succeeds Act](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/every-student-succeeds-act-essa-what-you-need-to-know) (ESSA) is starting to shine a light on how many students frequently miss school. The law requires all state, district, and school report cards to start including this data. Dozens of states also chose to focus on this issue in their state ESSA plans. These new efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism mean parents are more likely to get a phone call from the school when their child misses school for any reason. ## What you can do It’s important to keep track of how many days your child is actually missing. There are also things you can do to help your child *want *to go to school, or at least not try to avoid it: - Talk with your child. Try to find out the reason for missing school. Together, you can try to brainstorm some solutions. - Call the school and talk with an adult who knows your child, like a school counselor, administrator, teacher, or [case manager](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/iep-case-managers-a-guide-for-parents). Find out what the school can do to help. - If your child is struggling and you don’t know why, consider [having your child evaluated](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-evaluations). - If your child has an IEP, make sure all of the [supports and services](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-services-and-supports-for-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences) are in place. - Get tips on [how to respond when kids say they don’t want to go to school](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-to-say-when-kids-with-learning-and-thinking-differences-dont-want-to-go-to-school). If social anxiety seems to be a big issue, you may want to start keeping an [anxiety log](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/download-anxiety-log-to-find-out-why-your-child-gets-anxious-or-stressed) to help look for patterns in your child’s behavior and calming strategies that can help. You may also want to learn more about [the problem of bullying](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-bullying-problem-what-you-need-to-know) and [how to protect your child from bullying](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/steps-take-if-you-suspect-bullying-childs-school). --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [School refusal vs. sick days: What’s really going on?](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/the-opportunity-gap/school-refusal-sick-days) - Learn why chronic absenteeism happens, how to spot school refusal early, and what families can do to help kids feel safe, supported, and ready for school. In this episode, Julian breaks down chronic absenteeism. What is that, you ask? As parents, youre probably familiar with kids avoiding school. - [Signs of bullying in kids with learning differences and ADHD](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/signs-of-bullying) - Kids who learn and think differently are at risk for bullying. But it’s not always easy to recognize that a child is being bullied because the signs can point to other things, too. Learn about common ways kids show they’re being bullied. - [School refusal: What it means when kids won’t do schoolwork](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-refusal) - As many as 1in4 kids show signs of school refusal at some point. They wont go to school, whether its outside of the house or at home. And they wont budge about doing schoolwork at all. Unlike with kids who are complaining or avoiding schoolwork, you cant talk them into doing it. 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