Roll Call: Unpacking Chronic Absenteeism in Florida

Roll Call: Unpacking Chronic Absenteeism in Florida

Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of school days, has significant negative consequences on academic performance and long-term student success. In Florida, chronic absenteeism rates have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, with notable increases from 2018 to 2023. This brief explores trends in absenteeism across the state, with a particular focus on the variation in such absenteeism and relationship between absenteeism and socioeconomic factors, such as students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL). The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, considering school and district-specific challenges, to address the root causes of chronic absenteeism and improve student engagement and academic outcomes across Florida.

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Video Policy Briefs

What are SROs and Why are They in Schools?
Center Co-Director and Associate Professor, F. Chris Curran, explains what school resource officers (SROs) are and why they are an increasingly common fixture in schools.

 

School Resource Officers and School Discipline
Center Co-Director and Associate Professor, F. Chris Curran, discusses the roles of school resource officers (SROs) in the school discipline system.

 

School Resource Officers and Student Interactions
Center Co-Director and Associate Professor, F. Chris Curran, discusses the ways that SROs engage with students and the potential implications.