School attendance is down, chronic absenteeism is up, and concern for students’ learning is growing. On March 6, 200 cross-sector experts and practitioners who are taking a holistic view of students’ experiences and outcomes in school gathered at an event hosted by the Crown Family School’s Kersten Institute for Urban Education and the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC) to discuss how to address the troubling trend across the city and state. The event, Present & Thriving: Students' Attendance, Connectedness, and Well-Being, drew heads of school districts, non-profits, city and state agencies, teacher support organizations, and community organizations, including five sitting members of the Chicago Board of Education. Attendees heard from school communities and a diverse group of practice and policy leaders on what they’re seeing, thinking, and doing to help young people attend and thrive in school, and built more cohesive ideas about the collective path forward for student engagement and success.
New research from the UChicago Consortium on School Research and IWERC show the clear connection between students' attendance and learning. Students with lower attendance rates had lower grades and test scores; higher attendance rates meant higher grades and test scores. The research also points to a key opportunity: schools can and do influence students’ attendance. School climate and culture is more connected to attendance today than ever before. A focus on students’ experiences in, engagement with, and connection to school is critical...