The New Absenteeism

Five Profiles of Student Engagement

The New Absenteeism

Five Profiles of Student Engagement

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Overview

In Summer 2024, we conducted 35 ethnographic interviews with students, educators, and community members from diverse backgrounds. We learned that chronic absenteeism isn't just about students missing school; it’s a complex issue with many causes and requires tailored approaches for different groups. From those who are "checked out" to those in "real-life" crises, each group needs specific interventions to support their return and engagement in school.

From Chronic Absenteeism to the New Absenteeism: Five Profiles of Youth Engagement

By Colleen Keating-Crawford, Michelle Jia, and Goutham Marimuthu

Revisiting Chronic Absenteeism

School leaders, organizations and governments are sounding the alarm about chronically absent young people, typically defined as those who miss 10% or more of the school year whether due to excused or unexcused absences. Research has long demonstrated that chronic absenteeism is correlated with “increased rates of high school dropout, adverse health outcomes and poverty in adulthood, and an increased likelihood of interacting with the criminal justice system.” While chronic absenteeism has been rising nationwide before 2019, after COVID, rates as much as doubled in multiple states.

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Team

Colleen Keating-Crawford
SMD, Chief of Staff
Michelle Jia
Design Practice Coach
Goutham Marimuthu
Design Researcher

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