News Summary
The Louisiana Department of Education introduces “The Power of Presence” initiative to tackle rising student absenteeism. The program aims to improve attendance rates across the state, where chronic absenteeism has surged. The initiative emphasizes collaboration over punitive actions, offering research-backed strategies like weekend food bags and after-school activities to engage students. Aiming for a 2% reduction in absenteeism annually, the program also seeks to support districts with guidelines and resources to foster an environment conducive to academic success.
Baton Rouge – The Louisiana Department of Education has launched a new initiative titled “The Power of Presence” to combat rising student absenteeism across the state. This program seeks to tackle the alarming trend of students missing school, which has escalated over the last two academic years. The initiative emphasizes collaborative efforts at both district and community levels to improve attendance, steering clear of punitive measures.
The announcement comes as Louisiana grapples with a notable increase in absenteeism rates. In the recent 2023-24 school year, nearly 1 in 4 students in the state was classified as chronically absent, marking a three-percentage point rise from the previous year. Louisiana’s absenteeism rates were notably high, with the state being among five out of 36 states experiencing rising absenteeism rates. The urgency of addressing this issue was underscored during an annual teacher conference in New Orleans.
The framework, released this week, consists of a detailed 31-page guidebook that outlines standard definitions of chronic absenteeism and truancy to promote consistency across school districts. Chronic absenteeism is identified as missing 10% or more of a school year. To effectively track at-risk students, the guidelines stress the importance of systematic data collection and reporting.
Proposed interventions designed to boost attendance include initiatives such as providing weekend food bags for students facing food insecurity and establishing a closet with spare clothing for students unable to afford school uniforms. Additionally, the initiative promotes student participation in after-school activities to foster engagement.
While schools are not compelled to implement these strategies, the initiative offers research-backed solutions to curb poor attendance. Chronic absenteeism has been associated with negative academic outcomes like lower test scores, poor grades, and increased risk of involvement with the criminal justice system.
The state’s superintendent, Cade Brumley, noted that while Louisiana has demonstrated significant academic recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic, persistent attendance issues have prevented further advancements. The state has set a goal to reduce absenteeism by 2% annually, aiming for nearly 45,000 fewer children identified as chronically absent by the end of the 2027-28 school year.
The framework promotes flexibility within districts to adapt their attendance strategies while adhering to universal guidelines. This includes forming partnerships with local organizations such as churches and local governments, engaging families in their children’s education, and establishing attendance teams responsible for tracking data and coordinating initiatives.
The guidelines draw inspiration from a successful initiative implemented at Baker High School, which managed to reduce chronic absenteeism by 13 percentage points in just one year. The uniform approach provided by the guidelines facilitates a consistent dialogue around attendance across schools in the state.
In addition, the guidelines clarify the definitions of excused and unexcused absences, enhancing data collection efforts and analysis capabilities for schools. Staff from the state education department are set to assist districts facing challenges in attendance improvement by implementing the recommended strategies.
The Louisiana Department of Education’s “The Power of Presence” initiative represents a focused effort to address and mitigate the rising absenteeism rates, fostering a supportive environment in which all students have the opportunity to succeed academically.
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Additional Resources
- The Advocate
- Wikipedia: Chronic Absenteeism
- NOLA.com
- Google Search: Louisiana Absenteeism
- Houma Today
- Google Scholar: Absenteeism in Education
- KTAL News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Truancy
- WBRZ
- Google News: Absenteeism Louisiana
