It's 10 a.m. on Monday. Do you know where your children are? Regrettably, many students miss school daily, which is challenging for schools nationwide. Chronic Absenteeism is a pivotal problem that negatively impacts students, families, schools, and communities. According to the Federation of American Teachers, Chronic Absenteeism is when students miss 10% or more of their school days for any reason: excused, unexcused, or suspensions. Did you know that 1 in 5 students experience chronic Absenteeism? Chronic Absenteeism can affect all students, regardless of age. It can start as early as pre-school and tends to increase during middle and high school.

 

Prolonged absences from school may harm students' social and academic development. Students who miss school regularly find it difficult to keep up with the rate at which they should be learning and developing, which leads to their falling behind. Students who miss school frequently also lose chances to make friends, get involved in the school community, and explore potential career paths. Chronic Absenteeism predicts low academic success, in which students may eventually drop out of school, and poor outcomes later in life.

Psychological, socioeconomic, and other barriers prevent students from attending school. Psychological factors include a dislike of the school climate and culture, academic difficulties, lack of peer and other relationships, mental health challenges, bullying, or disciplinary practices. Socioeconomic factors include lack of transportation, housing issues, and inequitable service access. Other barriers can include obstacles preventing students from getting to school, such as illness and family circumstances.

Being present in school daily is essential for academic success. Ways to encourage attendance include:

• Creating safe and inclusive environments.

• Engaging families in the school community and their student's education.

• Providing wraparound supports that provide access to equitable services and address mental and physical health challenges.

Center for Family Services offers a solid and innovative continuum of care to support and empower individuals, families, and communities to achieve a better life through vision, hope, and strength. Center For Family Services offer programs that can help decrease barriers to academic success, including family support and prevention services to increase awareness and access to equitable services and linkages to community resources. Additionally, through counseling and behavioral services students and families can find assistance in addressing mental and behavioral health. 

If you would like to learn more about any of these offerings including New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S). If you want to learn more about our services, please visit the links shared here or reach out to the Access Center directly at 877.922.2377.