Absenteeism Family Guide
While school and ecosystem leaders are working to identify root causes and solutions, they have not found a strong family voice to sit at the table. To understand parent and guardian perspectives on absenteeism Great MN Schools conducted family focus groups with a total of 135 participants – primarily low-income and/or BIPOC participants who have been most affected by the issue—to gain insight into how they experience and view school attendance challenges.
This is an example of a tooltip!
About Absenteeism
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
It happens when a student misses too much school – just 2 days a month means you are chronically absent. This includes excused and unexcused absences, as well as suspensions.
What’s Happening in Minnesota?
Since COVID-19, more students are missing school. In 2023, nearly 200,000 students in Minnesota were chronically absent.
Students from low-income families and communities of color have been affected the most affected – a low-income student is more than twice as likely to be chronically absent.
Why Does It Matter?
When students miss a lot of school, they can fall behind. This can make it harder to:
- Learn reading, writing, and math
- Feel part of school
- Graduate from high school
Missing school in 9th grade can even predict whether a student will finish high school.
The Good News?
When families, schools, and communities work together, attendance can improve and students can thrive.
What Families Told Us
We spoke to 135 parents and caregivers – mostly from low-income families and communities of color – about attendance. Here’s what we heard:
- Families don’t realize how many days their kids miss – Most parents thought their child missed less school than others, but school records show many students are absent much more than families realize.
- Families are confused about sick policies – Many parents said they don’t understand when to keep their child home or when it’s okay to send them to school. Clear rules from schools are missing.
- Students and families do not feel welcome in schools – Mental health and belonging are big reasons why students stay home. Black families, especially, said their children feel misunderstood or treated unfairly by school staff.
Absenteeism Myths
FACT: Any time away from school – excused or unexcused – is time lost from learning. A pattern of absences for any reason takes a toll on a student’s social, emotional, and academic growth.
FACT: Attendance is important for students of all ages. Missing school in early grades can lead to struggles in later grades.
FACT: Missing just two days a month means your child is consistently absent. Just two days every month will add up to a total of an entire month by the end of the school year.
FACT: Makeup work can’t replace time spent learning with teachers and classmates. Learning is more than homework. Even when students complete makeup work, they miss out on valuable classroom learning and social time.
What You Can Do
We’re in this together
You know your child best. Your voice matters.
Schools and families working together can help students succeed—one day at a time.
Need help? Ask your school or reach out to any of the resources below:
Be@School (Hennepin County)
- be.at.school@hennepin.us
- 612-348-6041
School Attendance Matters (Ramsey County)
- RCAOSAMInfo@ramseycounty.us
- 651-266-3238
Attendance Works (National)
- https://www.attendanceworks.org/
- info@attendanceworks.org
Thank you to our community partners that helped connect us with families and develop this tool
