Absenteeism plagues public schools, with Michigan facing some of the worst attendance rates nationwide. Researchers focus on Michigan, where pre-pandemic data showed over 60% of students were chronically absent, rising to nearly 80% post-pandemic in the worst schools. This alarming trend drives studies to uncover effective solutions for improving school attendance.
A recent study highlights hope through certain interventions. Some Michigan schools excel in student attendance, particularly using frequent home visits for families with absent children. Successful schools conduct these visits daily or weekly, unlike less frequent visits, which show minimal impact.
Determining a school’s influence on attendance is complex. To assess this, researchers from the University of Michigan-Flint and Wayne State University analyzed students switching schools. This approach helped estimate whether school environments significantly impacted attendance, adjusting for student backgrounds and academic performance.
The study assessed approximately 2,700 Michigan schools from 2022 to 2025, ranking them by attendance improvement. Top-performing schools saw students attending about seven more days annually than those in the lowest-performing schools. Given that missing 18 days annually defines chronic absenteeism, these seven days are significant.
Encouragingly, progress persisted over three years. Yet even schools showing improvement faced challenges: chronic absenteeism rates remained above 40% in some institutions, particularly in impoverished areas like Detroit and Flint.
High-poverty schools grapple with absenteeism, implementing numerous strategies. Researchers analyzed a Michigan survey among principals to discover common successful tactics. Frequent home visits emerged as effective, aligning with Connecticut research. An intensive home visiting program in Connecticut also yielded positive results.
However, frequent home visits aren’t universally successful. Some schools witnessed stagnant or worsening attendance, emphasizing the need for deeper analysis. Factors influencing success include the personnel conducting visits, timing, and interaction content, according to Jeremy Singer, lead author and assistant professor at the University of Michigan-Flint.
Schools employ various interventions without strong attendance links, such as early warning systems and communication methods. Personalized text messages correlated slightly with attendance improvements, as did schools actively assisting families with external barriers like housing and transportation.
Identifying effective interventions remains elusive. The study suggests that successful schools might employ unmeasured strategies, such as hiring skilled teachers or building relationships fostering student engagement. Researchers caution against overestimating “best practices,” highlighting the complexity of identifying truly effective schools and interventions.
Contact staff writer Jill Barshay at 212-678-3595, jillbarshay.35 on Signal, or barshay@hechingerreport.org.
This story about addressing absenteeism in Michigan was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers education. Sign up for Proof Points and other Hechinger newsletters.
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