SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio is facing a growing problem with student absenteeism.
A new study from City Education Partners reveals that approximately one in four children in the city are chronically absent. A chronically absent student is a student who misses at least 10% of the school year.
“Chronically absent is missing one in 10 school days, which is about 18 days,” Jillian Duran of City Education Partners said. “When you think about school being something like eight or nine months of the year, you’re talking about two or three days a month. That’s pretty serious.”
According to Duran, the study also shows that chronically absent students are more likely to drop out before graduating high school.
Chronic absenteeism also impacts school funding. When students miss school, the district loses an estimated $60 per student for each day.
To combat the problem, schools have begun focusing on building community relationships and partnering with nonprofits like the United Way to address barriers such as health issues and transportation.
“When a student feels like a school is a safe place for them, a joyful place for them, it’s somewhere they want to be every day,” Duran said.
Parents and guardians interested in learning more can read the full report online and use this interactive website to check how their child’s school is performing.
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