The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following statement.
Close to 10 Percent of Mississippi Public Schools Report Extreme Rates of Chronic Absence Among Students
Problem Can Be Addressed with Prevention and Early Intervention
Close to 10 percent of Mississippi’s public schools report extreme
chronic absence rates, with close to a third of students missing 15
percent
or more of the school year, according to a national analysis released
September 1.
Across Mississippi, 88 of 902 schools report that 30 percent or more of students are chronically absent.
The percentage of Mississippi schools with an extreme chronic absence rate mirrors the national rate of 11 percent.
An additional 132 Mississippi schools
report 20-29 percent of students are chronically absent. At such high
levels, all students in the classroom are affected when teachers have to
deal with the churn of sporadic attendance.
The chronic absence analysis, “Portraits
of Change: Aligning School and Community Resources to Reduce Chronic Absence,” was released by Attendance Works and the Everyone Graduates Center.
The
report used data from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil
Rights, which defines chronic absence as missing 15 percent or more of
the academic year (180 days) for any reason, including
excused and unexcused absences, suspensions, and time missed due to
changing schools.
Chronic
absence is different from Average Daily Attendance (ADA), which show
the average percentage of students who are present over a snapshot of
time.
“Missing
too many days of school for any reason puts children at risk
academically and can translate into a child who can’t read by the end of
third grade, fails courses
in middle school and eventually drops out of high school,” explains
Hedy N. Chang, Executive Director of Attendance Works.
Many
children, especially in the early grades, miss too much school because
of chronic health problems, unreliable transportation or housing moves —
barriers that state
and city agencies and community partners can help families address.
“The
research is clear about the link between chronic absence and student
achievement. If children are not in school, they are not learning,” said
Dr. Carey Wright, state
superintendent of education.
“Parents,
school and communities need to work together to ensure that students are
attending and staying engaged in school every day.”
“Portraits
of Change,” by Hedy N. Chang and Robert Balfanz, profiles examples of
attendance initiatives found throughout the country that show how
chronic absence can
be turned around, even when it reaches high levels in a school or
district or among a particular student population. The report also
shares how partners such as businesses, nonprofits and local governments
can team up with educators and add support and resources.
11 comments:
The way they calculate this is not reflective of the reality of life. As a parent that lives in a rural area of the state and has to DRIVE anywhere for doctor's appts, etc. it is almost impossible not to cut it absences close if you have a child that is dealing with a chronic illness, unusually sick (flu/pneumonia), a death in the family, etc. And I'm not one for letting kids have a "slick" day or sleep in. I work. I have a schedule to maintain myself. Chronic absences should be counted for ENTIRE DAYS missed. Not partial. It's a racket. But we can now claim the highest paid upper management for the crappiest schools in the U.S. Score one for Mississippi!
There needs to be a viable school from which to skip first!
I was prepared to watch an NFL game tonight. But, during the national anthem at least one player decided he'd rather sit than honor his country (with all its imperfections). He has every right to do so. Many people died to give him that right. So, I exercised my right to change channels and watch something else. Fuck the NFL and its overpaid players who are spoiled and think we give a shit about their political beliefs. Quit football (and your ridiculous salary) and form a nonprofit if you want to change the world.
9:03pm, thank you for joining me in boycotting the NFL this season. The fact that lesser QBs than Kaepernick are signed to contracts while he languishes, is disgusting. If more people like us turn off their TVs this season, perhaps the NFL will make some changes. First would be to stop playing the anthem, as it has nothing to do with football.
Public Education in Mississippi is a JOKE!!!!
The so-called Leader of Education in Mississippi is a JOKE!!!!
And, whoever hired this so-called Leader of Education in Mississippi is an IDIOT or perhaps an entire BOARD of IDIOTS!!!!
We have the poorest excuse for public education in the State of Mississippi that we have ever had and to think that we are paying the highest salary to a State Superintendent of Education of any state in the union. In order for this to be a viable plan, we should have at least 90-95% of our schools with the highest ratings in the country; instead, we have schools all over the state constantly being threatened with state take-overs because their ratings are so low. And, we have the highest paid Superintendent in the nation who has made zero difference in our public schools and cannot find her butt with both hands!
It's time someone looked into this situation; obviously, this woman knows where the bodies are buried!
The "chronic absence" problem is part of the MDE K-12 scam....as well as across every strata of higher education. Everyone in upper administration is in on the scam, because it's tied to federal dollars that are used for FAT salaries and to build new buildings that are nowhere near needed. It's a fact. Thousands of faculty are pressured to keep their mouths shut and "excuse absences" (which is counting them present when they aren't). Data is money.....and THROUGHOUT all Mississippi education the mantra is: "It's all about the numbers". Play ball or you're out.
So, riddle me this, 4:29...If funds flow based on average daily attendance, how is it to a school's advantage to charge a late arrival as a 'day absent'?
PS: We all have the same issues you listed, regardless of how far out in the sticks we live or whether we're in the middle of town.
@ 9:03
I also exercised my right to change the channel from NFL game due to the sitting during the national anthem... I side with Jim Brown and James Harrison from Pittsburgh Steelers on protests... it's completely dumb and wrong format to lobby for something... comedian Kevin Hart said it best... people pay to hear my comedy not my political views
@6:05 AM Isn't that the POINT? It's to nobody's advantage except those whose job it is to LIMIT FUNDING. I didn't create the absurd system. Some other highly paid "consultants"or "genius" did. If someone were to "game" the system in order to maximize funding, well that's on them not me.
P.S. Am I the problem here or is it the ridiculously skewed system currently in place? My point was the stats published by the overpaid and bloated bureaucrats in Jackson are not reflective of the real world. Unless the world you live in begins and ends with MDE.
Did I miss something? When I clicked on the Excel spreadsheet, there was no listing by schools or districts.
I have never watched a football game, so I am right up there with you guys protesting. I prefer to go shopping. The absences from schools really hurt students. One child misses a day for (really excuse notes received by an attendance officer:
The Braves were in town.
My hamster got loose in the garage and we could not find him.
My mother's tattoo got infected.
We got in late, so we deicided to sleep in and have a movie day.
My mom needed me to watch my little brother.
We forgot that there was school today!
The weather report was bad.
Dad was still sleeping and we missed the bus.
It was skip day.
I had to finish my homework.
The above excuses are not a joke, nor meant to be funny. They are real. One day missed is a day behind in work for a student. Five days missed is probably a full grade if not made up. 12 days missed is most likely a year behind in work and while the student may be passed to another grade level, they will only suffer the following year. Years of this and yes, you have yourself a drop out. Attendance if very important to their self esteem, learning and confidence.
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