Many factors play into whether a student is successful in school. It is difficult if not impossible for a student who misses school to be successful as  teaching and learning continues  daily.   So, we are experiencing a national problem: chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism occurs  when a student misses a significant number of school days for any reason. The term significant is subject to interpretation, but chronic absenteeism is usually defined as missing at least 10 percent of the days in a year. Unfortunately,  in 2022, two out of three schools nationwide had high chronic absenteeism.  

While chronic absenteeism can and does occur at every grade level, it is most prevalent in high school. One thing is clear: chronic absenteeism jeopardizes both the short-term and long-term success of students academically and socially-emotionally. When students miss school, they lose valuable opportunities to reach critical milestones and develop future-ready skills.  

Some alarming statistics released by the U.S. Department of Education shed light on the fact that not all groups experience chronic absenteeism the same. For example, chronic absenteeism is 15% less likely among English learners than non-English learners. Also, American Indian and Pacific Islander students are over 50 percent more likely to miss three or more of school compared to their white peers. Black students are 40 percent more likely to miss school than white students, and Hispanic students are 17 percent more likely to miss school.  

Combating absenteeism often starts by identifying the root cause of absenteeism. Research has shown that children impacted by poverty are more likely to experience many challenges, including limited transportation, lack of safety, and poor health, which impacts their ability to be present in the classroom.  A strong foundation at home is often linked with an increased probability that students will succeed in school and develop adaptability into adulthood. There is not one solution but all of us as educators must face this issue head on and decrease absenteeism.  

Another area of research is virtual tutoring. Tutoring has been a service offered for many years in most schools. The new area that we are also learning about is virtual tutoring.  Virtual tutoring, especially high dosage tutoring places an emphasis on instruction for at least 20 minutes a day, four times a week. When done properly, virtual tutoring is as effective as in-person tutoring. The key is to ensure that both virtual tutoring and in-person tutoring remains rigorous and frequent, which should allow the student the maximum benefit.