What Is The Importance Of School Absenteeeism And Truancy?

A major issue primary and secondary schools encounter is the reluctance in students’ behavior to attend school and their excessive absences condoned by guardians or their voluntary decision to be absent. This is a concerning matter for school officials and the community because it increases achievement gaps at the elementary, middle, and high school levels (Balfanz & Byrnes, 2012). More so, schools depend on student attendance to receive state and federal funding to further fuel the multifaceted multiplicity of education expansion as well as improve standardize test scores, graduation and dropout rates Balfanz & Byrnes, 2012. Although, regular school attendance is foundational to children’s success and is mandated with the consequence of penalty if not in attendance, school absenteeism and truancy are common, serious, and highly vexing problems (Kearney & Graczyk, 2013; Lawrence, Wendell, Victoria, & Hightower, 2011). The two are leading issues effecting education therefore, this paper will focus on defining them, how the two impact schools, community/family and student achievement, and last what interventions can be used to increase attendance as well as reduce truancy. …show more content…
Absenteeism refers to students who accumulate within a given academic year a significant amount of absences (excused or unexcused) that come to be excessive or chronic. It can also be defined by two definitions as: “missing 10 percent or more of the school year or prior year missed a month or more of school” (Balfanz & Byrnes, p. 3). School truancy on the other hand, is a problem that is often associated with students who show antisocial and juvenile delinquent behaviors as well as who voluntarily without consent choose not to attend school (Lawrence, Wendell, Victoria, & Hightower,