Up to 13% of all children miss 15 or more school days each year. After the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have reported absenteeism is on the rise. Since absenteeism can lead to negative health outcomes for children, pediatricians have an important role to play in preventing and addressing school absenteeism. In this post, we’ll take a look at how schools and governments are helping, and how your office can help using tools you use every day, like your EHR.
“Just like we consider fever to maybe signify an infection or inflammation underlying that fever, pediatricians can consider missed school as a vital sign under which might be unmet health and social needs,” said Heidi K. Schumacher, M.D., FAAP
Effects of Absenteeism on Health
School is a safe and constructive environment for kids to learn, play, make friendships, and access opportunities for a bright future. Absenteeism, broadly defined as missing 15 days or more of school a year, negatively impacts test scores and school performance, which can lead to reduced opportunities for fulfilling and financially stable careers in adult life, and can contribute to negative mental health outcomes.
The reasons for absenteeism are varied, but are significantly correlated to social determinants of health, such as childhood trauma, unstable family situations, and financial, housing, and food insecurity. Students of minority backgrounds are also more likely to experience absenteeism.
Post-COVID Effects on Attendance
In the wake of the pandemic, absenteeism has increased by 13%. Families and students may still be coping with effects of the pandemic, such as the illness of a caregiver, a caregiver’s job loss, the need for a child to work to support the family, or a disregard of physically attending school as important, especially in light of remote learning during pandemic lockdowns. Abuse and neglect may also be factors exacerbated by the pandemic and contributing to absenteeism.
How Schools and Governments are Responding
Advances in reporting technology mean that educators and legislators are better equipped to understand the causes of absenteeism and measure effects of intervention. For example, dashboard data in Indiana collates information on absenteeism by county, enabling lawmakers and educators to identify locations where families may need further support.
The Every Day Counts summit held in May 2024 gathered legislators, educators, and pediatricians to address absenteeism. During the summit, the Director of the Domestic Policy Council Neera Tandon proposed four strategies to help get kids back in class: increasing communication with families, reducing barriers, increasing school’s relevance by supporting career and technical education, and increasing access to family support services.
How Pediatricians Can Help
Pediatricians play a role in preventing and addressing absenteeism.
One effective strategy is to use broadcast messaging or a newsletter to spread awareness among families about the importance of school attendance. This can help emphasize the connection between regular attendance and academic success, as well as the potential consequences of chronic absenteeism.
Connecting families to support services can also be an important step in reducing barriers to school attendance. This may include linking them with resources for transportation, childcare, or other social services that can help alleviate the challenges that can lead to missed school days.
Additionally, it is important to identify and address any healthcare needs that may be causing barriers or disengagement with school, including mental health concerns. By communicating with local schools and clarifying when children should stay home due to illness, you can help ensure that absences are minimized and that students are able to return to the classroom as soon as they can.
Finally, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping evening office hours to reduce missed school. This can be an effective way to provide care for your patients without disrupting their educational commitments. Other benefits include revenue opportunities for your practice, as evening hours are an added convenience to families.
