New Research Links School Attendance and Health for Latino Kids

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Chronic school absenteeism is a national problem that is becoming more and more critical with each passing school year. More than 6.5 million kids are at risk every year of falling behind academically, dropping out of school. According to new data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), chronic absenteeism has been linked to serious long-term health, employment, and financial concerns.

Schools along with state governments and the federal government have begun to address the underlying causes of chronic absenteeism. Defined as missing 10% or more of school days in a school year, which translates into 15 or more days per year; chronic absenteeism includes excused and unexcused absences.

For Latinos, these issues have become more and more important as their overall population has grown in the U.S. According to recent U.S. Census figures, there are over 55 million Latinos living in the U.S. and 12.2 million Latino family households. Overall, 23.5% of all elementary and high school students were Latino.

According to the research brief released by the RWJF, the absenteeism problem begins early for many kids. More than 10% of kindergartners and first graders are classified as chronically absent. Once the problem takes hold, the consequences become progressively worse.

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Students who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read at the appropriate grade level by third grade. This issue is compounded as these students are four times more likely to drop out of high school than those who are “proficient readers.”

For students who are chronically absent in grades 8 through 12, the likelihood of them dropping out of school completely is magnified seven times. These are all dire statistics; however, when the link between absenteeism and health is explored further, the outcomes become even more concerning.

The RWJF’s research determined that a college student is likely to live nearly 9 years longer than someone who has not completed high school.

Initiatives to help alleviate these trends have been taken at every level. The new federal education law, dubbed the “Every Student Succeeds Act,” requires state education agencies to include chronic absenteeism on state report cards as a key indicator. Federal agencies have been given permission to support states that have strategies to implement to combat absenteeism.

Strategies at the state and local levels that the RWJF recommend include ensuring every student has access to a school nurse, implement “early warning systems” to notify parents and/or guardians of absentee problems, and partner with outside agencies and organizations.

Read more about the findings and recommendations here.

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