Nearly half of Sonoma County schools exceed federal rate for student absences
For education officials, it's clear as a bell: Kids need to show up to school to do well academically.
But getting them into the classroom has been a major struggle, even when it comes to students in younger grades, according to new data released by the federal government via the Associated Press.
More than 12 percent of public school students in Sonoma County missed at least three weeks of class in the 2013-14 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Education. While the county as a whole did better than the national average, nearly half of Sonoma County's schools fared worse, including some of the area's largest campuses.
Nationwide, 13 percent of students - or 6.5 million children, were chronically absent. The statewide average was similar to that of the county at just over 12 percent.
It was the first time the federal agency collected information on chronically absent students, or those who missed 15 days or more of school.
Elsie Allen High and Cook Middle School saw among the highest chronic absenteeism rates in Sonoma County with a respective 28- and 27-percent rate, according to the analysis.
Rates skewed higher at alternative high schools, which have smaller student populations, many of whom already are considered academically at-risk.
Attendance problems weren't just visible in middle and high schools. Students missed a lot of class time in grade schools, including Steele Lane Elementary where a fifth of 450 students were chronically absent, according to the analysis.
It also found that 26 percent of the 400 students at Mark West Elementary School missed three or more weeks of school in 2013-14. However, district Superintendent Ron Calloway said their rate was closer to 16 percent that school year. Many absences were illness related, he said.
School administrators and principals are paying close attention to chronic absences, regardless of whether they're excused, said Mary Ann Ayala, student and family engagement director at Santa Rosa City Schools.
So are state and federal education officials.
After releasing the chronic absenteeism data earlier this month, the Obama administration and U.S. Department of Education unveiled plans to expand a mentoring program aimed at improving attendance in several communities across the country, including Los Angeles, Oakland and Sacramento.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris also has partnered with educators and nonprofits in the state to find ways to reduce chronic absenteeism and prevent students from dropping out and winding up in the juvenile justice system.
Addressing the problem
Ayala said principals, teachers and district officials in Santa Rosa came together last year to launch a committee and are not only addressing unexcused absences but also excused ones, particularly at a time when schools look to boost graduation rates.
“There is evidence that shows a direct correlation between attendance and graduation rates,” Ayala said. “Students cannot complete the necessary coursework if they are not present. This translates to a loss of credits required for graduation.”
While chronic absenteeism is a major problem affecting the state and nation, Attendance Works Executive Director Hedy Chang said it can be reversed. She said schools need to understand where absenteeism is happening, whom it's impacting and what barriers are preventing children from going to school.
Children may have transportation problems, unstable housing or face violence at home or in the neighborhood, she said. Parents may be keeping their kids at home because of health concerns, such as uncontrolled asthma.
A 2009 study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found a link between frequent absences and a lack of affordable dental care. Children who needed dental care but couldn't afford it were nearly twice as likely to miss one or more days of school than those who could afford it, the report stated.
Students from low-income families are four times as likely to be chronically absent, in part because of lack of health insurance and other factors, according to Attendance Works.
In Sonoma County, 25 percent of Latinos are uninsured, nearly three times the rate for non-Latinos. Meanwhile, Latinos made up nearly half of those students who were chronically absent in the county.
Chang said the federal absenteeism data is a “call to action.” She said schools need to engage parents, and educate them about the importance of getting their kids to school and on time. Educators also need to work with the children; mentorship programs have been successful around the country, she said.
“What gets kids in school is knowing that somebody cares about them,” Chang said.
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