Date

11-9-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

In Massachusetts in 2022, approximately 33,000 students were chronically absent (missing ten percent of the 180-day school year) students (Buyinza, 2022). The purpose of this research project was to learn what strategies and programs work to support elementary students who are chronically absent, and why students are missing school. Chronic absenteeism impacts all academics but particularly reading levels; social skills and future career opportunities are also negatively impacted (DESE, 2022). Having resources to support educators and their students during these trying times is important for the success of a child’s educational future. As part of this project, teachers, administrators, school counselors, and attendance officers were interviewed to understand how they ensure chronically absent children receive academic and social-emotional support. It was discovered during this research that communication is a key task, between families and teachers and between teachers and administrators. Attendance should be a number one priority to schools because without children in the classrooms, who are educators going to prepare for the future?

Department

Elementary Education

Thesis Comittee

Dr. Jeanne Carey Ingle, Thesis Advisor
Dr. Jo Hoffman, Committee Member
Dr. Andrea Cayson, Committee Member

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