Study finds EARLY absenteeism significantly affects academic performance

Children with chronic absenteeism in kindergarten show deficits in reading and math performance throughout their school career. A study sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, "Present, Engaged, and Accounted For," found that a pattern of absence in kindergarten significantly lowered reading and math scores in first and still in fifth grade. Additionally, these patterns are strong predictors of later dropping out of school--even better predictors than test performance. The decrements were especially significant for children who missed more than 10% of classes and according to the report, 10% of kindergarten and first grade students miss a month of school a year. Strategies to address this often overlooked problem are offered. See also the Attendance Counts website which has some great videos on projects to reduce absenteeism.