Did you know that missing too much school can really affect how well students do in math and reading? In fact, not going to school can lead to students falling behind by up to 27% in math and 45% in reading. The Biden-Harris Administration is paying a lot of attention to this. They want to make sure schools are safe to open again, help students catch up, and support them in many ways. The goal is more than getting things back to how they were before. It’s about helping students do even better and getting schools ready for what’s ahead.
To help students succeed, it’s important for different groups to work together. This includes teachers, doctors, and community leaders. By putting in place strong plans like extra tutoring, summer school, and using data smartly, we can make a big difference in student progress. Let’s look closer at these important policies. They are key for helping students catch up and do well in the long run.
Key Takeaways
- Chronic absenteeism can significantly impact test scores, resulting in declines of up to 27% in math and 45% in reading.
- Family involvement is crucial, with home visits by teachers reducing chronic absenteeism by 21%.
- High-dosage tutoring programs offering frequent, small-group sessions can accelerate student learning and achievement.
- Extended summer learning programs can add months of learning, with daily instruction enhancing both math and reading skills.
- Cross-sector collaboration is vital for comprehensive student support and successful academic recovery efforts.
- Policies emphasize safe school reopenings, holistic student support, and ongoing academic progress.
- Effective use of data and early warning systems help identify and assist at-risk students, fostering a positive school culture.
Addressing Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism has seen a sharp rise from 15 percent in the 2018-2019 school year to nearly 30 percent in the 2021-2022 school year. This increase in missed school days could lead to a loss of up to $2 trillion in future earnings for students in America. With every state facing higher rates of chronic absenteeism, it’s crucial to tackle this problem now.
Importance of Regular Attendance
Going to school regularly is key to doing well in class. The gap in absenteeism rates among different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups has grown, making it harder to improve academic success. Studies show that being absent from school led to a big drop in test scores in both math and reading.
Test scores from the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years show some improvement after the pandemic. When families take an active role in education, kids tend to go to school more often and do better academically.
Strategies to Reduce Absenteeism
To fight chronic absenteeism, schools are reaching out more, visiting homes, making school a welcoming place, supporting students in many ways, and keeping lessons consistent. I’ve seen how intensive tutoring and focused support can help get chronically absent students back in school more regularly.
- Proactive communication strategies
- Home visits
- Positive school climate
- Multi-tiered systems of support
- Continuity of instruction plans
Case Studies and Examples
In Miami Dade and Philadelphia schools, a big drop in absenteeism was noted. Connecticut spent $10.7 million on a program to get kids to attend school more. After nine months, attendance skyrocketed by 8 percentage points for younger students and 16 points for older students.
Early Warning Systems in schools led to less chronic absenteeism and fewer failed classes for ninth graders. Having families involved in education helped a lot, especially after the pandemic.
Working together—families, schools, and communities—is the key to dealing with chronic absenteeism. By focusing on getting kids to school regularly and getting families involved, we can help students succeed academically.
Providing High-Dosage Tutoring
High-dosage tutoring is a key way to speed up student learning. Schools using well-trained teachers see big improvements. These improvements are especially seen when tutoring fits into the school day and matches the classroom goals.
Benefits and Evidence
Research proves high-dosage tutoring brings many benefits. It works best in small groups, ideally with six or fewer kids per tutor. The biggest academic boosts are seen in one-on-one tutoring or in small groups.
Young kids, like those in preschool and kindergarten, do best one-on-one. First graders succeed in both one-on-one and small groups. From second grade up, kids do well in groups of three to four. Around 65 hours of tutoring can lead to big improvements in what students achieve.
Key Components of Effective Tutoring Programs
Effective tutoring programs share common features:
- Certified teachers often act as tutors, which guarantees high-quality teaching.
- Tutoring is regular, happening four to five days a week for 30-60 minutes.
- It’s usually done during school, which helps students get more out of it. High-dosage tutoring is offered for free in key areas like reading and math.
- The programs use careful assessments to create personalized learning plans and check progress.
- They offer various ways to learn, like in-person, hybrid, or online, to meet different needs.
Examples of Successful Tutoring Initiatives
Cities like Chicago, Baltimore, and Greensboro have launched effective high-dosage tutoring programs. They’ve made a big difference in their communities’ educational efforts. With help from the American Rescue Plan, these programs focus on structured learning and frequent sessions to get the best results.
Programs aimed at younger students, K-3, boost essential reading skills. Then, math tutoring for grades 4 and 8 is based on a structured, group approach. These tutoring sessions, usually lasting 12 weeks, make a lasting difference without overloading students. They show how important it is to have a structured approach to what is taught.2>
Summer and Expanded Learning Programs
In the U.S., summer and expanded learning programs are key to improving student success. Kids are out of school for 80% of their time, making these programs vital. They help fill in learning gaps, especially in math, through afterschool activities.
Impact on Student Achievement
Quality afterschool and summer programs have shown they can bridge the educational gap. Joseph Durlak and Roger Weissberg found that these programs boost grades, attendance, and behavior. Summer programs with three hours of daily lessons add up to two months of math and one month of reading progress.
Extended Learning Time Benefits
Extended learning boosts educational outcomes. Governor Lincoln D. Chafee notes their benefit for students from elementary to high school. Dr. Tony Evers highlights the role of 21st Century Community Learning Centers. These programs improve academic achievements and extend learning beyond the school day.
Successful Program Models
The American Rescue Plan has improved summer programs, helping nearly half of school districts raise math scores. It focuses on aiding high-poverty areas, enhancing resources for schools that need them most. Programs like these prove structured, well-funded afterschool activities can improve grades and close educational gaps.
Role of Family and Parental Engagement
Having parents involved is key to student success. Various studies link family engagement with better academic results. Children do well when their families are active in their schooling.
But, family involvement is not just about helping with homework or going to meetings. It means creating a home that supports learning. Parents should set goals, talk with teachers, and help their child aim high. Such actions boost learning, improve social skills, and decrease bad behaviors.
There are many ways for families to support learning at home. They can extend classroom lessons, engage in educational activities, and use digital tools to connect with teachers. Being a volunteer or part of school governance also helps. It strengthens community ties and school relationships.
Here are some key findings on family engagement:
- Supporting math learning at home leads to better scores on math tests.
- Reading with children improves their ability to read, helping address the reading skills gap in fourth graders.
- Parents who volunteer or support extracircular activities make a positive impact on their child’s growth and school life.
- Supportive families can help youth in the justice system get back on track more smoothly.
School staff should consider the hurdles to parental involvement, like busy schedules or lack of transport. Working together can overcome these issues. This teamwork doesn’t just help students; it makes the school a better place for everyone.
Effective Use of Data and Early Warning Systems
The growing use of data and early warning systems in schools is changing how we support at-risk students. Now, 31 states produce reports to spot these students early. This is up from 18 states in 2011. It shows a big jump in efforts to help students before they fall behind.
Identifying At-Risk Students
An effective system looks at attendance, grades, and behavior to find students who may struggle. In 20 states, these reports are updated all year. They are shared on dashboards or portals for teachers to see right away. The goal is to help principals, teachers, and counselors act fast to support these students.
Leaders in schools and districts play a key part too. In 10 states, they can change the system to better fit their students. They pay special attention to students missing lots of school. While this has helped students from well-off families, those from poorer families still face big challenges.
Data-Driven Intervention Strategies
Once we know who needs help, schools step in with specific plans. Teachers get coaching to better use student data and make plans to help. This way, they can connect with students who aren’t engaged and tweak school rules to keep them from falling behind more.
In four states, schools share what’s worked and what hasn’t. This sharing makes the strategies better over time. They also match early-warning signs with the root problems students face. This shows where help is needed most. The aim is to boost attendance, cut dropout rates, and prepare students for college and careers. Early warning systems are now used in over half of the public high schools.
This approach of using detailed data, helping students in a personal way, and dynamic strategies creates a space where students can thrive academically and plan for their futures.
High Expectations and School Culture
When schools create high expectations within a positive culture, students do better. Educators with positive mindsets who use great instructional materials often see their students excel. Consistency in these expectations and combating implicit biases helps students, especially those of color or from low-income families.
Impact of Educator Mindsets
The attitudes teachers bring to class greatly influence student success. Studies reveal that high expectations from teachers lead to higher student performance. This effect, known as the “Pygmalion Effect,” proves that faith in students boosts their confidence and grades.
If educators have biases and expect less from certain student groups, these kids might achieve less. They start to believe they can’t do better, which hurts their academic progress.
Creating a Positive School Climate
For a fair learning space, a positive climate is key. Teachers, admin staff, and parents should all expect high achievement. Engaging parents, like in some Michigan projects, improves students’ learning experiences.
Using high-quality instructional materials is also important. Teachers can be “warm demanders,” as Zaretta Hammond suggests. This means forming strong, trusting ties with students while keeping high standards. This approach boosts students’ abilities and prepares them for the future.
Creating a supportive and expectation-rich culture is vital for student success. By working to make learning fair for everyone, we help every student thrive, no matter their background.
Support for Teachers and Staff
It’s crucial to back teachers and staff well, to keep schools stable and high in quality. A report from the Texas Education Agency shows a big drop in parents wanting their kids to become teachers. So, boosting our teachers through tailored professional development is a must. This not only makes them better teachers but also improves how students perform. This is especially true in schools with many poor students or students of color.
Customized training is key. It should meet each teacher’s needs, offer varied learning, and support an inclusive classroom.
The cost of teachers leaving is too much to ignore. In rural places, this costs about $9,000 per teacher, while big city schools might see costs of $20,000. Keeping teachers around means having good starting programs and mentorship. This helps new teachers get useful tools and support to do well past their first year. With mentorship and ongoing training, we can keep more teachers in schools. This helps avoid breaks in learning and keeps students doing better.
Principals and school leaders are important for creating a welcoming school. They can make this happen by setting up faculty meetings and team activities. It’s also good to push for new ideas. They should praise teachers’ hard work, encourage a balance between work and life, and provide self-care options. This keeps teachers from getting too stressed.
Leaders should listen well, involve parents, and work with the community. This makes the support network for teachers stronger. By doing these things, we improve what educators can do. This leads to our students doing better too.
