School Attendance Patterns, Unmet Educational Needs, and Truancy: A Chronological Perspective
Abstract
This study examines chronological patterns of attendance and academic performance of urban students who are identified as truants in Grade 8. A chronological review of 42 student records, from school entry through Grade 8, identified high frequencies of absenteeism and academic performance issues beginning at school entry and, in many cases, persisting throughout elementary and middle school years. Results suggest that ongoing analysis of attendance data within a school system could help to identify early patterns of absenteeism that lead to truancy in upper elementary and middle school grades. Additionally, the study indicates a need for socioemotional support, as well as early and appropriate referral and evaluation for children who are struggling in school, and it calls into question the practice of retention and social promotion as a response to absenteeism and poor school performance among elementary school children.
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Numerous studies have illustrated ancillary problems associated with school absenteeism whether excused or unexcused, combine these absences when evaluating outcomes, or have found few differences based on this absence typology.
“Numerous studies have illustrated ancillary problems associated with school absenteeism whether excused or unexcused, combine these absences when evaluating outcomes, or have found few differences based on this absence typology”
From Reconciling Contemporary Approaches to School Attendance and School Absenteeism: Toward Promotion and Nimble Response, Global Policy Review and Implementation, and Future Adaptability (Part 1) (2019) · cites this paper as Spencer, 2009
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- Authors
- Spencer, A. M.
- Affiliations
- Bank Street College of Education (US)
- Corresponding author
- Spencer, Andrea M.
- Venue
- Remedial and Special Education
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-07-11
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 309-319
- ISSN
- 0741-9325 (ISSN-L)
- 1538-4756
- OpenAlex
- W2098368130
- Cited by
- 59
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 4.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Remedial and Special Education (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Youth Substance Use and School Attendance
- Social Sciences › Education › Educational Outcomes and Influences
- Social Sciences › Education › Education Discipline and Inequality
- Keywords
- truancy, absenteeism, academic performance, unmet educational needs, urban students, socioemotional support, student retention, social promotion, early identification of struggling students, junior high school students
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