The DOI matches its Crossref record; 77 of the 79 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Evaluating the Relationship Between Student Attendance and Achievement in Urban Elementary and Middle Schools: An Instrumental Variables Approach
Abstract
Researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and parents have assumed a positive relationship between school attendance and academic success. And yet, among the vast body of empirical research examining how input factors relate to academic outcomes, few investigations have honed in on the precision of the relationship between individual attendance and student achievement. The purpose of this article is to provide insight into this relationship. Specifically, this study has evaluated the hypothesis that the number of days a student was present in school positively affected learning outcomes. To assess this, a unique empirical approach was taken in order to evaluate a comprehensive dataset of elementary and middle school students in the Philadelphia School District. Employing a fixed effects framework and instrumental variables strategy, this study provides evidence from a quasi-experimental design geared at estimating the causal impact of attendance on multiple measures of achievement, including GPA and standardized reading and math test performance. The results consistently indicate positive and statistically significant relationships between student attendance and academic achievement for both elementary and middle school students.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“Chronic absenteeism has been linked to a number of negative outcomes for students, including lower achievement, course failure, and ultimately student disengagement and increased risk of dropping out of high school (Allensworth and Easton 2007;Allensworth et al. 2014; Balfanz and Byrnes 2012; Balfanz, Herzog, and Mac Iver 2007; Gottfried 2010; Mac Iver and Mac Iver 2010; Ready 2010).”
From Danger on the way to school: exposure to violent crime, public transportation, and absenteeism (2019) · cites this paper as Gottfried 2010
Citations
Cites
(2013) · American Economic Review · doi:10.1257/aer.103.5.i · Cited by 15,501
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd ed
Cooper, A. M., & Michels, R. (1981) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.138.1.128 · Cited by 7,419
Spillane, J. P. (2003) · Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis · doi:10.3102/01623737025004343 · Cited by 4,289
Finn, J. D. (1989) · Review of Educational Research · doi:10.2307/1170412 · Cited by 2,702
Economic Shocks and Civil Conflict: An Instrumental Variables Approach
Miguel, E., Satyanath, S., & Sergenti, E. (2004) · Journal of Political Economy · doi:10.1086/421174 · Cited by 2,460
On the Specification and Estimation of the Production Function for Cognitive Achievement
Todd, P. E., & Wolpin, K. I. (2003) · The Economic Journal · doi:10.1111/1468-0297.00097 · Cited by 1,514
Judd, C. H. (1928) · Journal of Education · doi:10.1177/002205742810700706 · Cited by 1,410
Dropping Out of Middle School: A Multilevel Analysis of Students and Schools
Rumberger, R. W. (1995) · American Educational Research Journal · doi:10.3102/00028312032003583 · Cited by 1,316
School subsidies for the poor: evaluating the Mexican Progresa poverty program
Schultz, T. (2004) · Journal of Development Economics · doi:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2003.12.009 · Cited by 1,302
Does peer ability affect student achievement?
Hanushek, E. A., Kain, J. F., Markman, J. M., & Rivkin, S. G. (2003) · Journal of Applied Econometrics · doi:10.1002/jae.741 · Cited by 1,189
Research works printed but not linked: 13
- Balfanz R., 2004, Locating the dropout crisis
- Durden G. C., 1995, American Economic Review, 85, 343
- Fine M., 1994, Chartering urban school reform, 5
- 10.3102/00346543059002117 · DOI · Paper page
- Finn J. D., 1993, School engagement and students at risk
- Halfors D., 2002, Journal of Social Health, 72, 205
- Johnson G. M., 2005, Educational Technology and Society, 8, 179
- Kirby A., 2003, The Economic and Social Review, 34, 311
- Levine J. R., Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association
- Marburger D. R., 2001, Journal of Economic Education, 14, 11
- Roby D. E., 2004, Educational Research Quarterly, 28, 3
- Schneider B., 2007, Estimating causal effects using experimental and observational designs
- Summers A. A., 1977, American Economic Review, 67, 639
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–340 of 340
School drop - out in Romania: impact assessment of preventivecurative strategies in children
Buzgar, R., Opre, D., Pintea, S., & Opre, A. N. (2021) · Journal of Educational Sciences · doi:10.35923/jes.2021.2.04
Compulsory Class Attendance Versus AutonomyPreprint
Goulas, S., Griselda, S., & Megalokonomou, R. (2022) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4010600
What Would Vygotsky Say? Effectiveness of Standards-Based Learning Environment
Holley, D. (2019) · American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (AERA) · doi:10.3102/1432368
Muflihah, L. W., & KISMIANTINI, K. (2023) · AIP conference proceedings · doi:10.1063/5.0111152
Does residential mobility affect educational outcomes? Evidence from Chile
Bogolasky, F. (2023) · International Planning Studies · doi:10.1080/13563475.2023.2250564
Disparities in Identification Between Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and Head Start Programs
Pedonti, S. F., Leech, K., Hines, M. B., Soliday-Hong, S., Able, H., & Crais, E. (2024) · Journal of Early Intervention · doi:10.1177/10538151241257855
Boujaoude, S. B., & Faour, M. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-72203-5_6
LA DOBLE RELACIÓN ENTRE ABSENTISMO ESCOLAR Y LA REPETICIÓN DE CURSO EN SECUNDARIA OBLIGATORIA
Rubia, F. A., & Toledo, S. V. (2024) · KNOW AND SHARE PSYCHOLOGY · doi:10.25115/kasp.v5i4.10333 · Cited by 1
Shankar, M., Teiko, P., Wertman, E., Haughton, J., Flower, K. B., Steiner, M. J., & Cholera, R. (2025) · Academic Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/j.acap.2025.102889
Dampil, E. F. G., & Dampil, J. G. (2025) · International Conference on e-Education, e-Business, e-Management and e-Learning · doi:10.1109/ic4e65071.2025.11075409
Assogba, O. K. E., Madodé, Y. E., Francisco, A. M. E., Kossou, J., Lokonon, J., Luginaah, I., & Hounkpatin, W. A. (2025) · Frontiers in Education · doi:10.3389/feduc.2025.1651335 · Cited by 1
Preschool dosage, outcomes, and mechanisms: Why are two years better than one?
McDoniel, M. E., Connolly, C., Steyer, L., & Obradović, J. (2025) · Early Childhood Research Quarterly · doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2025.10.004
Lee, H. J., Anderman, E. M., Liu, X., Allsop, Y., Irwin, M. K., & Saxbe, S. (2025) · The Journal of Early Adolescence · doi:10.1177/02724316251391407
Canbulat, M., & Asma, B. (2025) · Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching · doi:10.1080/17501229.2025.2579540
The Intersection of Asthma and Anxiety in Urban Minority Youth
Vargas, A. P., Mohammad, A., & Agosto, R. (2024) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/979-8-88730-588-220251005
Dardick, W. R., Corry, M. D., & Coyle, M. A. (2024) · Quarterly review of distance education · doi:10.1108/qrde-05-2024-0004
Britwum, F., Acheampong, H. Y., Amoah, S. O., Adjei, E., Aidoo, S., & Agyemang, E. O. (2025) · Future in Educational Research · doi:10.1002/fer3.70034
Mejías-Leiva, M., & Mínguez, A. M. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26712317
Chronic Absenteeism in New Jersey Public Schools: A Statewide Survey of Superintendent Views
Gogol, R., & Bobbitt, S. R. (2025) · International Journal of Humanities and Applied Social Science · doi:10.33642/ijhass.v10n12p1
Wildfire Smoke Exposure and School Attendance in New York CityPreprint
Lim, C., Geetika, F. N. U., Lowe, A. A., Wilson, K., Donovan, G. H., Kondo, M. C., & Kim, H. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6170350
Steyer, L., Omar, J., Sulik, M. J., & Obradović, J. (2026) · Early Childhood Research Quarterly · doi:10.1016/j.ecresq.2026.01.011
Moussa, W. S., & Lee, J. (2026) · American Educational Research Journal · doi:10.3102/00028312261416515
Andronis, L., Morgan, C., Donaldson, C., Lancsar, E., & Petrou, S. (2026) · Health Economics · doi:10.1002/hec.70089
Abebe, M. N., Regassa, T., & Geleta, M. W. (2026) · Innovation Education · doi:10.11648/j.iedu.20260102.16
Assessing walking to school inequalities in a Latin American city
Pizzol, B., & Giannotti, M. (2026) · Discover Cities · doi:10.1007/s44327-026-00253-9
Wildfire smoke exposure and school absences in New York City Public Schools, 2011–2019
Lim, C. C., Geetika, F. N. U., Lowe, A. A., Wilson, K., Donovan, G. H., Kondo, M. C., & Kim, H. (2026) · Environment International · doi:10.1016/j.envint.2026.110299
Toy, B. Y., & Hunter, D. (2026) · Studies In Educational Evaluation · doi:10.1016/j.stueduc.2026.101614
Strickland, K., Chan, W., & Gottfried, M. A. (2026) · Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis · doi:10.3102/01623737261438146
Kuo, L., Hu, X., Dixon, L. Q., Chowdhury, M., Chen, Z., & Zeng, Y. (2026) · Computer Assisted Language Learning · doi:10.1080/09588221.2026.2673879
Wu, Z., Park, A. B., Awada, M., & Assaad, R. H. (2026) · Engineering Construction & Architectural Management · doi:10.1108/ecam-02-2026-0241
Enhancing Student Outcomes Through Partnerships for Student and Parent Support Systems
(2020) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-64113-796-620251010
The role of sanitary pads in school achievement in low-income settings
Patel, A., Axinn, W. G., & Ghimire, D. J. (2026) · Social Science Research · doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2026.103395
Public Education in Greece: Insights from the DataPreprint
Goulas, S., & Monachou, F. (2026) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.6978419
A Machine Learning Approach to Classifying School Absenteeism Patterns in Youth with ADHD
Goh, P. K., Rogers, M. A., Wong, A. W., Mellor, G. S., Whitley, J., Smith, J., McBrearty, N., Tatartcheff-Quesnel, N., & DuPaul, G. (2026) · School Mental Health · doi:10.1007/s12310-026-09893-z
The short- and long-term outcomes of student absenteeism – a systematic literature review
Demir, E. K., & Henrekson, E. (2026) · Educational Research Review · doi:10.1016/j.edurev.2026.100863
The Impact of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support on Chronic Absenteeism
Gage, N. A., Duran, L. A., Parsons, J., Olmstead, C., DeVoll, R., & Spencer, R. M. (2026) · Education and Treatment of Children · doi:10.1007/s43494-026-00179-2
Metadata
- Authors
- Gottfried, M. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gottfried, Michael A.
- Venue
- American Educational Research Journal
- Published
- 2010-06
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 434-465
- ISSN
- 0002-8312 (ISSN-L)
- 1935-1011
- OpenAlex
- W2113436206
- Cited by
- 342
- References
- 79
- Citations by year
- 2026: 19 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 25.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Educational Research Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Youth Substance Use and School Attendance
- Social Sciences › Education › School Choice and Performance
- Social Sciences › Education › Innovations in Educational Methods
- Keywords
- school attendance, academic performance, urban elementary schools, urban middle schools, grade point average, standardized test performance, reading achievement, mathematics achievement, School District of Philadelphia
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review