New data from the West Virginia Department of Education quantifies what every teacher already knew: Students who attend school regularly perform significantly better than students who miss a lot of school.
(Read more from Brad McElhinny here)
Students with regular attendance consistently outperform students who are chronically absent, defined as missing at least ten percent of days—or 18 days a year—in English Language Arts and math.
State School Superintendent Michele Blatt told the state Board of Education last week that the performance difference exists at all levels. “This is consistent when you go through the grade levels and when you go through the various content,” she said.
The data also show students with discipline problems underperform. “So being in school and behaving in school consistently across grade levels (leads to) an increase in our achievement and the results that we see for our students,” Blatt said.
Here is why that data is so significant: 23.5 percent of all students are chronically absent. The good news is that the number is down from 27.6 percent the previous year. However, it still means about one-fourth of all students are at risk of underperforming because they just are not in school enough.
All schools are required by law to follow up with chronically absent students.
County school systems have attendance directors and assistants, and they are required to contact the parent or guardian when a student has three unexcused absences. At five unexcused absences, the parents and the student must report to the school for a conference. At ten unexcused absences, the school can file a complaint against the parent in magistrate court.
Now consider this; West Virginia’s public school enrollment in 2023 was 269,000. Since 24 percent of students are chronically absent, that means attendance directors and their staffs are trying to deal with about 65,000 students.
And the challenge is even greater when you add in a significant issue associated with some of the students who are homeschooled. Not all families submit the required academic assessments. For third graders, 71 percent are submitting the assessments, while for fifth graders it’s 69 percent, and 65 percent for eighth graders. However, for eleventh graders the number drops to 36 percent.
One theory is that parents of high school students who are chronically absent or have discipline issues simply remove them from school under the guise that they are being educated at home. The local school system, which is already overwhelmed with their own chronically absent students, cannot keep up with everyone.
The lack of proper reporting leaves county school systems in the dark about many students. Blatt said the data show that, “We have approximately 3,100 students who we’re not sure what grade level they are actually in.”
A good education unlocks potential for a fulfilling life. However, the data show that far to many young West Virginians start out far behind, making it more difficult to reach their goals.