Chronic Absence

NOTICE: Coronavirus Guidance for School Districts: Per Governor’s executive order, in-school class cancellations remain in effect through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

Emergency Meal Programs: The State Department of Education is authorizing two distinct categories of COVID-19 Emergency Meal Programs in accordance with federal requirements: 1) COVID-19 Emergency Meal Program Limited to Students Attending School in Specific Districts. School districts on this list are only authorized to serve meals to students attending their schools, and any other child age 18 years or younger residing in the same household; 2) COVID-19 Community-wide Emergency Meal Program for Children. Any child age 18 years or younger can receive meal(s) at any meal service and distribution sites in these towns/cities. They do not have to be a resident or attend school in these towns/cities. Check these links often as more locations continue to be added.

Chronic Absence

Overview

COVID-19 Attendance Guidance

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our school communities, the location of learning has shifted to students’ homes, potentially increasing the resources needed for the otherwise straight-forward task of taking attendance. Guidance is provided below in a memorandum from Commissioner Cardona and two resources from the Department of Children and Families:

Attendance Guidance and Ensuring Student Engagement during School Class Cancelations Due to COVID-19, Commissioner Miguel A. Cardona, April 9, 2020
FAQ for DCF Electronic Reporting Update, Department of Children and Families
When to Make a Referral to the DCF Careline, Department of Children and Families

Good attendance is essential to student achievement!

Research shows that absences add up and that good attendance is essential to student achievement and graduation. Whereas, chronic absence and truancy can be lead to school drop-out, academic failure and juvenile delinquency. Chronic absence is defined as missing 10 percent or more of school for any reason including excused, unexcused and disciplinary absences. It is a proven predictor of academic failure and dropout rates. Absences occur due to many factors, e.g., health, unstable housing, lack of transportation, student disengagement from school, and safety/school climate. By removing barriers to attendance, districts, schools and community partners can improve attendance.

Learn more:

Connecticut's Reducing Chronic Absence in Connecticut Schools: A Prevention and Intervention Guide for Schools and Districts provides additional support for schools and districts including: definitions, examples of root causes, local intervention models; strategies for districts and schools as well as state and national resources.

Watch a webinar overview of the guidance document and student attendance tracking!
Download the slideshow presentation.

EdSight is the Connecticut State Department of Education's interactive data portal that provides data for schools, districts and the state, including chronic absence.

NOTE: As of July 1, 2017, Public Act 17-14, Section 1(a)(2), removes any in-school suspension of a half day or more from the calculations of students absences done by local and regional boards of education, as per Circular Letter: C-1, Series 2017-2018. Students attending in-school suspension for more than one-half of the school day should no longer be marked as not in attendance or absent from school that day.

Chronic Absence vs. Truancy

Chronic absence and truancy are not interchangeable terms. They describe different aspects of the absence problem and require different approaches. Truancy is a term that generally refers to unexcused absences. Chronic absence, on the other hand, incorporates all absences: excused, unexcused absences, and suspensions and expulsions served. Guidance and resources are provided on the Truancy webpage.