Arizona's struggle with chronic absenteeism continues as schools across the state are grappling with high rates of students missing class, a problem that has persisted since the pandemic. Despite recent efforts, the occurrence of chronic absenteeism in Arizona remains twice as high as it was before the onslaught of COVID-19. Chronic absenteeism, defined as a student missing 18 days or more in a school year, affects more than just academic success — it's a social and economic issue too.
According to a report from 12 News, the Washington Elementary School District, Arizona's largest K-8 district, recorded that over one in four of its students were chronically absent during the 2022-2023 school year. Principal Chance Whiteman, in a statement obtained by 12 News, emphasized the critical role of school attendance in academic achievement and future success, noting the district's proactive approach to tracking attendance and intervening early.
As schools press on toward attendance improvements, a multi-faceted strategy is crucial. An Arizona Department of Education update highlighted the creation of the Arizona Chronic Absence Task Force, a collective that includes the Governor's office and various stakeholders, which aims to explore and rectify the root causes of absenteeism.
The task force will finalize a comprehensive resource guide and a set of legislative policy recommendations by this fall. Meanwhile, Read On Arizona, with funds through Project CALL, contracted with Attendance Works to provide training on evidence-based strategies to boost attendance, with over 350 educators and stakeholders participating to date. Lori Masseur from Read On Arizona is also gearing up for an engagement with the Arizona School Boards Association's Summer Leadership Institute come June.
Efforts to reduce chronic absence have gone beyond simple interventions. Schools have adopted fundamental changes, putting relationships at the heart of their approach. "The biggest challenge for us is spreading that message to all that the number one focus is relationships, building those relationships with kids so they show up to school," Rich Morris, director of school support for WESD, told 12 News. With slow but steady gains, there's a glimmer of hope for Arizona's students and their future attendance rates.
