According to a report by Chalkbeat, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) officials have unveiled a policy proposal aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism among students. If adopted, the policy could send students back to their local schools if they consistently miss school days. The proposal was discussed at a school board policy/ad hoc committee meeting this past Monday and is slated for a first reading by the full board on September 12.
Addressing Chronic Absenteeism
As per the 2022-23 data cited by Chalkbeat, the district reported a 68% rate of chronic absenteeism, down from 77% the previous year but still significantly above pre-pandemic levels. Chronic absenteeism is typically defined as missing more than 18 days, or 10% of the school year. Currently, only about 55% of DPSCD students attend their designated neighborhood school.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told Chalkbeat that the proposed policy would involve a sequence of steps aimed at communicating with the student’s family. These steps include teacher contact for the first two days of a student’s absence and additional intervention measures, such as home visits and parent conferences, for every third unexcused absence. If these measures do not yield improvement, schools can then seek district approval to transfer the student to their local neighborhood school for the following academic year.
Striking a Balance
Vitti explained to Chalkbeat that the proposal aims to balance the need for accountability with the practical challenges contributing to absenteeism. “Principals of neighborhood schools have asked for greater accountability for student attendance,” Vitti said. “They also observe that families are placing additional burdens on themselves by not attending the school closest to their residence.”
By attending closer schools, families could potentially alleviate some of the transportation challenges often contributing to absenteeism.
A Long-Standing Issue
Before the pandemic, DPSCD had already been investing in various strategies to combat absenteeism. These measures, which included hiring attendance agents and forming partnerships with community organizations, had reduced the chronic absenteeism rate from 70% in the 2017-18 academic year to 62% by the end of the 2018-19 academic year.
Vitti revealed to Chalkbeat that punitive measures were considered several years ago but were postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside the new proposed transfer rule, Vitti also mentioned a policy under consideration that would require students to repeat a grade if they miss a substantial number of school days.
The proposal is part of a broader strategy to improve student attendance and academic performance, subject to further review and a subsequent vote by the school board.
For those interested in following this issue closely, the DPSCD has scheduled a meeting on September 12, where the proposed policy is expected to receive its first reading.
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