Springfield schools join new program to address chronic student absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism is defined by the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce as any student missing at least 10% of school days for any reason. That would generally mean missing more than 8 or 9 days a semester, or more than 17 days in a full school year.

“There are several barriers that may impact our students’ ability to be at school, including transportation, family obligations or general health and wellness,” said Superintendent Bob Hill. “The district has placed great importance on increasing our student attendance at all buildings in recent years through various initiatives, and I am looking forward to the positive collaboration that will result from participating in this cohort.”

Chronically absent students in Ohio are 65% less likely to meet third grade reading benchmarks and 89% less likely to graduate high school on time, according to the state. If a student misses just two days of school per month, they will miss the equivalent of one year of class instruction by their target high school graduation date.

Springfield officials said the Digital Promise program will familiarize participating districts with a proven research and development model, connect them with leaders who have implemented successful attendance tactics and offer support with data analysis of community conditions.

Chronic absenteeism increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, during and after the time when many schools moved to remote or hybrid learning. It doubled during the 2021-22 school year, and in 2023, about one in four students was chronically absent nationwide.

Springfield had a chronic absenteeism rate of 43.1% for all students on last year’s state report card for the 2022-23 school year, according to state data. Data for the 2023-24 year will be available later this month.

School district officials cited a “goal of making school a place students want to be, with clear connections between school and students’ employment and career prospects.” They said it will require collaboration between the schools, students, families and the community as a whole.

Each school district is supposed to come out of the six-month program having developed a blueprint and a specific action plan.

Springfield City Schools also is part of a separate “Success” program to address chronic absenteeism, partnering with nonprofit law firm Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc. (ABLE) and the Clark County Juvenile Court. It is funded by the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Springfield Foundation and the Community Health Foundation.

When a child at a participating Springfield school meets the criteria for chronic absenteeism, a team from the Success program joins the school to work with the family and address any issues that keep the child out of school.

If a family chooses to join the program, an ABLE attorney helps them resolve civil legal challenges, and a parent advocate employed by ABLE also works with an education liaison officer from the juvenile court to connect the family with social services and local community resources.

With September nationally recognized as Attendance Awareness Month, the district is celebrating “its priority to communicate the importance of student attendance.”

Springfield officials said along with the new program, the district has shared its attendance message via billboard campaigns; social media messaging; increased phone communication between building leaders, secretaries and families; and streamlined attendance collection and student absence review through improved data platforms. The district created individualized success plans for families who may be struggling with attendance, increased the number of attendance officers; and increased participation in the state’s Stay in the Game Attendance Network.

“Every day in class is a step toward success,” Hill said. “Attendance isn’t just about showing up — it’s about showing commitment to your child’s future. When students are present, they’re building the skills, knowledge and connections that will carry them forward in life. Let’s ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive by prioritizing attendance, because every day counts.”