Chronic Absenteeism Remains a Challenge for New York City Schools

New York City students are set to return to school this week, but one in three will miss at least 10% of the school year. Chronic absenteeism is identified as a significant barrier to student achievement. The New York City Department of Education (DOE) has reported that even with a strong curriculum and qualified teachers, students cannot learn effectively if they are not present. Approximately half of the students are not expected to finish the school year reading at grade level. Chronic absenteeism increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from 26.5% in the 2018-19 academic year to 34.8% in 2023-24. In kindergarten, 37.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2024-25 school year. Research indicates that absenteeism, particularly in early grades, correlates with negative educational outcomes, including lower standardized test scores and increased likelihood of future issues such as drug use and involvement with the criminal justice system. Unexcused absences, which constitute the majority of absenteeism, have the most detrimental effect on academic performance. High absenteeism rates disrupt classroom instruction, making it challenging for consistently attending peers to learn. The DOE plans to spend over $42,000 per student, yet those attending will spend 130 fewer hours in classrooms than the national average. This situation has led many families to withdraw from the public school system, with K-12 enrollment in New York City public schools declining by over 100,000 students since 2020. While 52,400 children applied for pre-K seats in 2024-25, only 46,370 later applied for kindergarten. The School Construction Authority anticipates a loss of another 150,000 students over the next decade. Charter schools are expanding, with five new schools opening this year, enrolling an estimated 152,000 students, or 16% of the total pupil population. Charter schools prioritize attendance, tracking it closely and communicating with families when students miss class. They also incentivize punctuality through awards for perfect attendance and penalties for late arrivals. Charter administrators can address absenteeism more flexibly due to the absence of union constraints. Chancellor Kamar Samuels and district superintendents are urged to prioritize reducing chronic absenteeism, as consistent attendance is essential for improving student achievement. Past initiatives, such as Mayor Mike Bloomberg's efforts in 2010, aimed to reduce chronic absenteeism through various strategies, including multimedia advertising and mentorship programs. Bloomberg's programs resulted in reduced absenteeism in 58 out of 100 participating schools. The current lack of urgency in addressing absenteeism highlights a decline in the DOE's effectiveness, despite increased per-pupil spending. The DOE is now requiring schools to appoint a staff member as an absenteeism liaison to provide support and enforce consequences for excessive unexcused absences. An early-warning system targeting high-risk students is also recommended. Urban districts across the nation, such as Detroit, are exploring cash incentives for attendance. While opinions may vary on such approaches, it demonstrates a commitment to addressing absenteeism. Improved data collection is also needed, as New York's attendance data release lags behind other states. The initial step to improving New York City schools is ensuring students attend regularly.