Present and Accounted for: Improving Student Attendance Through Family and Community Involvement

TLDR

Reducing student absenteeism and truancy is a goal of many schools across the country, yet little research examines how schools can increase daily attendance or the role of family‑school‑community partnerships. The study longitudinally collected data on schools’ daily attendance and chronic absenteeism rates and on partnership practices implemented to boost attendance. Several family‑school‑community partnership practices were found to predict higher daily attendance, lower chronic absenteeism, or both, indicating elementary schools can improve attendance through specific family and community involvement activities.

Abstract

Abstract Reducing student absenteeism and truancy is a goal of many schools across the country. Surprisingly little research focuses on what schools can do to increase and sustain students' daily attendance, and even fewer studies explore how family-school-community partnerships may contribute to this goal. In this longitudinal study, data were collected on schools' rates of daily student attendance and chronic absenteeism and on specific partnership practices that were implemented to help increase or sustain student attendance. Results indicate that several family-school-community partnership practices predict an increase in daily attendance, a decrease in chronic absenteeism, or both. The data suggest that schools may be able to increase student attendance in elementary school by implementing specific family and community involvement activities.