Attendance Recovery

Chronic absenteeism in schools has remained a lingering byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the nation’s chronic absenteeism rate for the 2022-2023 school year was 28%. Washington DC (47%), Oregon (44%), New Mexico (43%), Alaska (43%), Hawaii (42%), and Arizona (41%) were states with elevated rates of chronic absenteeism.

Solving chronic absenteeism is a complex endeavor that extends beyond political policy and educational codes. That said, numerous states have adopted attendance recovery initiatives aimed at reducing absenteeism. A handful of states tie educational funding to student attendance, which adds additional weight to attendance recovery efforts.

Attendance Recovery: Important Yet Challenging

Implementing attendance recovery programs at the school level can be challenging for a variety of reasons, including:

Expansiveness of Statutes and Codes: Bills defining educational policy may contain tens of thousands of words, some of which are more prescriptive than others. For example, among other things, California’s Senate Bill No. 153, Chapter 38 (2024) states:

“The bill would authorize a local educational agency to operate an attendance recovery program before or after school, on weekends, or during intersessional periods. The bill would prohibit a pupil from being credited with more than the lesser of the equivalent of 10 days of attendance in a school year, or the number of absences the pupil accrued in that school year, for participation in an attendance recovery program. The bill would require an attendance recovery program, as a condition of generating average daily attendance for a local educational agency, to be composed of pupils engaged in educational activities that align to grade level standards and that are substantially equivalent to the pupils’ regular instructional program, and under the immediate supervision and control of a certificated employee who possesses a valid certification document. The bill would require the department, when determining the chronic absenteeism rate of a school district or county office of education, to reduce a pupil’s absences by participation in an attendance recovery program.”

–California Senate Bill No. 153, Chapter 38 (2024)

Home & Personal Life: Some students face deep personal struggles that result in chronic absenteeism. Broken homes, financial poverty, and mental health issues cannot be solved by attendance recovery programs. Asking students in difficult situations to attend optional attendance recovery days often feels like a long shot.

Staffing: As cited above, California law requires attendance recovery programs to be “under the immediate supervision and control of a certified employee who possesses a valid certification document.” On the other hand, California’s attendance recovery programs occur “before or after school, on weekends, or during intersessional periods.” Schools must therefore find certified teachers who are willing to work outside of normal contract hours.

Lesson Planning: Most teachers are busy enough with the responsibilities of their existing classes. Developing standards-aligned attendance recovery programs that are “substantially equivalent to the pupils’ regular instructional program,” as required in California, can be a heavy lift.

Reporting: Obtaining credits to offset absences based on attendance recovery participation requires careful tracking and timely reporting. This recordkeeping is in addition to the existing reporting requirements for standard school days.

Cost: Paying certified teachers to develop attendance recovery curriculums, administer courses before or after hours, and monitor student progress represents a tangible cost for schools and school districts.

Let’s Partner for Attendance Recovery

Looking for a culinary-based curriculum to bolster your attendance recovery programming? Contact us to discuss how Rainbow Chefs Academy can align with your state’s attendance recovery requirements.