BOULDER, CO (November 14, 2024)—In this month's episode of NEPC Talks Education, Christopher Saldaña interviews Michael Gottfried about the critical issue of chronic absenteeism in K-12 education. Gottfried, a professor of education at the University of Pennsylvania, is an applied economist specializing in education policy. He explains that chronic absenteeism—typically defined as missing 10% or more of the school year—has become an increasingly pressing concern, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. He notes that rates have doubled in some populations, with students with disabilities seeing an increase from 15% to approximately 30% chronic absenteeism.
Research reveals that the impacts of chronic absenteeism extend far beyond the absent student. When students miss school regularly, their classmates' academic performance tends to suffer, and teachers report lower job satisfaction. In recent studies, Gottfried has uncovered concerning patterns in how teachers perceive chronically absent students, noting that even high-performing students are often viewed as less academically when they are chronically absent.
Health issues and transportation barriers remain the primary drivers of chronic absenteeism, particularly affecting students in rural areas and those from lower-income families. Gottfried critiques current intervention strategies, particularly those relying on rewards such as pizza parties and punitive approaches, which have shown to be ineffective.
Instead of superficial and punitive approaches he advocates for comprehensive policy initiatives that would transform schools into community support centers. His research suggests, for example, that investing in school-based health centers, maintaining robust transportation systems (especially in rural areas), and implementing universal school meal programs are most likely to reduce chronic absenteeism.
A new NEPC Talks Education podcast episode, hosted by Christopher Saldaña, will be released each month from September through May.
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