DC School Absenteeism and Truancy
DC School Absenteeism and Truancy
Written by: Irene A. Jacob Ph. D | BSA Policy Manager
Key Terms (according to DCPS):
Chronic absenteeism is defined as students being absent (excused or unexcused) for at least 10% of the days in which they are enrolled.
Chronic truancy is defined as students accumulating at least 10 full-day, unexcused absences in a school year.
June 26, 2024 School Absenteeism Hearing
“My name is Navaeh Williams, and I am a Ward 7 resident. I am here to testify about the topic of absenteeism. I am a youth leader with the Black Swan Academy. I am a rising 9th grader attending Anacostia High School in the fall.Statistics show that high schools east of the river have anywhere from nearly 80-90% percent absenteeism rates. As a youth leader, I would like to discuss our Black Youth Agenda items Hear Us, Heal Us and Safe Passage 4 Youth Passage as important factors that prevent youth from attending school. There are sometimes caregiver challenges, such as mental health issues, that may affect how a person is able to parent and get their children to school, which is a barrier I faced as a student. Community resources for mental health creates healthier families and youth able to attend school. When it comes to safe passage, I take the metro to school, and at times the metro is late and the app is inaccurate, which makes it challenging to get to school. Greater youth options for transportation such as more DC Connect shuttles can help make it easier for youth to get to school, and provide more safety.”
In July 2024, D.C. lawmakers passed an emergency bill to test a new method to break the barriers keeping youth in school. Nearly 50% of youth in DCPS To makewere categorized as being truant during the 2022-2023 school year. The previous system which relied on schools referring youth ages 14-17 to juvenile probation agency after 15 unexcused absences, has been seen as harmful and ineffective as punitive measures do not approach the root causes of truancy.
Throughout D.C. Council period 25 (2023-2024) a number of bills were introduced targeting student absenteeism, truancy, public safety, and family engagement. D.C by council members Robert White (D-At large), Zachary Parker (D-Ward 5), and Charles Allen (D-Ward 6). Notably, at the direction of Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson introduced a bill titled. “Utilizing Partnerships, Local Interventions for Truancy and Safety (UPLIFT) Amendment Act of 2024”. Black Swan Academy executive director, Samantha Davis was invited to participate in the initial School Truancy Roundtable in May and youth leaders submitted testimony for the June hearing outline the root causes of truancy and reinforcing demands of the Black Youth Agenda to curb absenteeism.
UPLIFT
The first three titles of the bill would make three changes to the juvenile delinquency process in the District.
Title I would require DYRS and the parents of youth charged with a dangerous crime while armed or charged with a crime of violence, and who are not securely held, to participate in a conference to develop a “family rehabilitation plan” and identify any services the family needs.
Titles II and III would both limit the use of diversion for juveniles charged with certain violent crimes.
Title II would bar youth charged with a dangerous crime while armed from benefiting from the adjustment process during a case. (The adjustment process allows for a case to be eligible for some type of diversion instead of a delinquency petition being filed to formally charge and prosecute the juvenile.)
Title III would bar youth charged with a dangerous crime while armed or with a crime of violence from benefiting from consent decrees, deferred adjudication agreements, and deferred disposition agreements.
Due to provisions of the bill decreasing juvenile protections and ultimately criminalizing youth and families, the Judiciary and Public Safety committee enacted B25-0912 - Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 in July of 2024 to gather more data to inform truancy measures. As Chairman Mendelson stated, “just because a kid misses school does not mean a kid is a delinquent.”
Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Amendment Act of 2024
The pilot grants the Mayor the opportunity to select five schools with a greater than 50% truancy rate to follow provisions of the program, which mainly include DHS involvement. This aims to target root causes of truancy and enhance wraparound service support for vulnerable youth. Schools will refer each student who is 14 years of age through 17 years of age to DHS no later than 2 school days after the accrual of 15 unexcused full school day absences within a school year. According to the pilot, by March 31, 2025, DHS should publish a preliminary report, and by August 15 , 2025, DHS is expected to publish a final report that:
Describes the interventions and services provided through the truancy pilot;
Provides the 5 most common reasons for unexcused absences for the students referred to DHS, such as housing instability, transportation issues, or medical 41 emergencies
Presents aggregate data on the 5 most common truancy intervention services or programs that students referred to DHS utilized;
Provides an analysis that compares:
The attendance outcomes, academic performance, and delinquency status of students referred to DHS to his or her attendance outcomes, academic performance, and delinquency status during the same time period in the prior school year
This mechanism of change is supported by 3.38mil funding boosted in the FY25 budget. While many support this systems focused intervention, critics have concerns regarding DHS’s ability to oversee these referrals as they currently are overwhelmed with current social support programs, such as the housing crisis.
OSSE (2024)
Root Causes of Truancy: Profiles of Youth Absenteeism
According to OSSE “economically disadvantaged” youth, Black youth, and students with disabilities represented the three highest groups displaying chronic absenteeism. This highlights the systemic exclusion often experienced by these youth and the myriad of social factors faced. Family-related factors influencing school absenteeism include family instability, caregiver health challenges, and a lack of resources. Research indicates over 30% of DC youth experienced being unhoused in 2023. Housing instability and a lack of financial resources impacts a young person’s mental well-being and ability to consistently attend school.
Organizationally, Black Swan Academy youth have at times had issues with attending school due to housing challenges and stayed with staff. These youth often had to choose between securing the basic needs of safety and housing or getting to school.
We have also had youth that have not gone to school due to not having clean clothing or uniforms and have relied on BSA staff to use their laundry machines or get rides to the laundromat. These factors could be addressed by schools. Furthermore, youth have reported challenges with their ability to attend school due to increased responsibilities at home to younger siblings. For some youth, if access to resources occurred at school there would be a higher rate of attendance.
School-related factors influencing school absenteeism have been linked to eroded youth self esteem and anxiety due to lack of adequate support for youth within the educational environment.
For youth with NEURODEVELOPMENT disorders such as ADHD, or other learning disabilities, attending school when they are not not met with the accommodations and support to learn the same coursework as their peers can result in school avoidance youth with learning differences. In general, the impact of COVID-19 on youth educational achievement cannot be minimized as it relates to young minds adjusting to a pandemic and readjusting to the school environment. Another school-related factor is accessibility.
References
OSSE (2024). 2023-24 MID-YEAR ATTENDANCE BRIEF. https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/Mid_Year_Attendance_1Pager%206_14_2024.pdf
https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B25-0912