According to a recent article in EdWeek, schools and districts that have successfully addressed chronic absenteeism have at least one thing in common: they collaborate with community partners to keep kids in school.
Although schools were established as educational institutions, in reality, they also often double as hubs where students and their families can access vital social services. Whether its supplying free lunch and breakfast, counseling services, or free dental visits, schools connect communities with a variety of supports designed to meet their students’ needs.
Yet a recent study reports that, while schools across the country are facing chronic absenteeism regardless of how well-resourced they are, schools that faced chronic absenteeism before the pandemic are the hardest hit, often shouldering a case load that their current systems cannot handle. To mitigate this trend, and to ensure that our most vulnerable students get the help they need, schools must partner with organizations with the resources and expertise to handle community needs.
Here are a few examples of partnerships that are reported to have been successful in getting kids to come to – and stay in – school:
- Safe Transportation: When a school district in Eerie, Pennsylvania realized that a lack of transportation was keeping students from attending schools, they enlisted the help of United Way to identify barriers like busy streets, unsafe crossings, and dangerous intersections that were difficult for students to navigate on their own. After identifying these barriers, United Way organized parents into “walking school buses” that accompanied students to and from school, ensuring their safe passage.
- Safe Infrastructure: In a school in Florida, administrators found out that a lack of street lights made walking to school difficult or impossible for some students. Working with the county, the school installed 50 additional street lights, creating lighting that made shorter, winter days much easier for students looking for their bus or walking home.
- Access to Basic Facilities: In another Florida school, administrators found out that students were often missing school because they didn’t have clean clothes. In response, the school installed a washer-dryer on campus and started a free clothing closet where students could find clothes in the sizes they needed. In a case like this, a school might ask local businesses to provide the materials they need to implement similar programs.
- Access to Health Care: In a new program with Washington DC schools, DC area health care providers request permission from parents to receive absentee data from the district. Health care providers then use this data to directly contact families and provide them with any necessary medical interventions, including those related to behavioral health. If families face challenges outside of their health, health care providers use their relationships with social services to help families access things like stable housing, food, and transportation. This not only takes the burden off schools, but also leverages existing resources by plugging families into an already functioning support system.
For more ideas on partnering with local volunteer organizations, businesses, and other institutions, check out Attendance Works’ toolkits for establishing and maintaining community partnerships.
