This powerpoint presentation was put together by Jessica Pennington, the Executive Director at the Truancy Intervention Project, and presented on August 28 at our Georgia Children's Advocacy Network (GA-CAN!) Off-Session Policy Series. This month we talked all about going beyond curriculum and teachers, and what else kids need from school to stay in school.

1. Georgia Children’s
Advocacy Network
(GA-CAN!)
August 28, 2013

2. Why We Should Care
 Georgia’s graduation rate: 67.4%
 Third lowest in the nation
 Graduation rate of students who miss 11-14 days : 61.08%
 Graduation rate of students who miss 15 or more days:
38.09%
Sources: Education Week, 2013 ; Making Education Work for all Georgians www.gadoe.org

3. Georgia’s graduation breakdown
 Students with disabilities: 30%
 Economically disadvantaged: 59%
 Black students: 60%
 Limited English proficiency: 32%
 White students: 72%
Source: Education Week, 2013

4. Chronic absenteeism vs. truancy
 Chronic absence: missing 10% of school days for any
reason- excused or unexcused (including suspensions)
 Truancy: the act or condition of being absent without
permission

5. Impact
 Missing more than five days of school each
year, regardless of the cause, begins to affect
academic performance and attitudes about school.
 Excused and unexcused absences have similar effects
on a student’s performance.
 The number of absences in the elementary years directly
influence a student’s chances of passing state
assessments.

6. Causes of absenteeism
Socio-economic factors:
 Lack of access to healthcare (increase in illness related absences)
 Lack of affordable housing (increase of precariously housed families or
“couch-surfers.” The National Coalition of the Homeless estimates this may
be as high as 1.65% - 4.7 million people - of the total population)
 Lack of affordable childcare (older siblings staying home to care for
younger children)
 Pervasive economic disadvantage (lack of adequate
nutrition, clothing, transportation; inability to pay fees)

7. Causes of absenteeism
Family/Parental factors:
 Lack of parental educational achievement (low value placed on
education)
 Lack of parental supervision
 Parental substance abuse
 Domestic violence

8. Causes of absenteeism
School-based factors:
 School climate - bullying, overuse of harsh disciplinary
actions by school administration, a feeling by the
student that he or she is unwanted.
 Curricula - lack of interesting or challenging curricula or
unidentified special education needs.

9. Causes of absenteeism
Community factors:
 Community upheaval and social change
 Loss of neighborhood schools and sense of 'ownership' of schools
 Negative peer influences
 High incidence of substance abuse, criminal activity
 Gang activity
 Inadequate provision for transportation

10. Beyond curriculum and teachers: What else
do kids need from school to stay in school?