EDUCATION
absenteeism rate among elementary schools was at Saddleback with 32% as of last school year. The high school problem The high schools, which report the highest chronic absenteeism, have principals who voiced similar approaches to raising attendance rates: data analysis, attendance and high-absenteeism tracking, personal support for students such as counseling, and family involvement to help address issues causing absenteeism. Marlene Armstrong, principal at MUSD’s newest high school, Desert Sunrise, said her staff presents a positive school climate and culture, which is essential for encouraging regular attendance. “Our team works together to create a welcoming environment where students feel valued, safe and connected to their peers and teachers,” she said. “We have begun to implement restorative practices, which foster positive relationships and reduce absenteeism associated with disciplinary issues.” Staff interventions with chronically absent at-risk students are intended to take place soon, she said.
“This means that usually when someone has strong relationships with others and a sense of belonging, they thrive and solidify the confidence within themselves and are encouraged by their own abilities,” Meach said. Without regular school attendance, a child is left behind, she said. MUSD administrators and counselors say they believe in contacting parents through letters and emails as an effective way of informing them about the importance of their schoolchildren’s attendance. Some educators have resorted to sending the school resource officers, sworn law enforcement agents stationed inside schools, to conduct a welfare check on the student if they are absent for an extended period. That is a last resort. Pastor said free and reduced lunch applications are an indicator of family poverty, resulting in a student’s chronic absenteeism. Pastor shared numbers revealing district schools’ rates of chronic absenteeism through the middle of last year. They show a higher rate of chronic absenteeism in Maricopa’s areas of poverty.
Playing hooky Keeping kids in classrooms is a problem. Twice as bad as 4 years ago
It is highest at Maricopa Wells Middle School, hitting 45% in May 2022 at the height of the pandemic. Desert Wind Middle School’s rate soared over 43% during the pandemic’s peak. As of last school year, both middle schools are down to 39% chronic absenteeism. Both Desert Sunrise and Maricopa High Schools average 39% chronic absenteeism, post-pandemic. Attendance at the district’s six elementary schools typically trends from 25% to 32% with this lowest chronic attendance at Pima Butte Elementary School — 15%. The highest chronic “The most successful approach that we use to encourage students to attend class is to create a welcoming environment that urges students to come back.” LAWRENA MEACH, STUDENT COUNSELOR
BY JEFF CHEW
ARICOPA SCHOOL District administrators are taking new steps to combat chronic student absenteeism, which ballooned during the pandemic and is slow to recover in the aftermath. UNIFIED Chronic absenteeism, defined by state educators as a student absent from school at least 10% of the time — or 18 days a school year — is worst at MUSD’s middle and high schools, where it hovers around 40%. “We’re still pretty far from where we were pre-pandemic, so we’ve got work to do,” said Tracey Pastor, MUSD assistant superintendent of administrative services. “But we’re moving in the right direction.” Pre-pandemic, the high school absenteeism rate was 18%. The middle school rate pre- pandemic was 15% and the elementary schools were at 8%. A Helios Foundation study shows MUSD’s percentages of chronic absenteeism are similar to Arizona school systems across all grades at 34%. That’s more than double 2019. Poverty connection Helios reported chronic absence rates were even higher among economically disadvantaged students, at 42%, and Indigenous students, 48%. Absenteeism has an outsize effect on families facing poverty, MUSD administrators and counselors say. Something as simple as lack of a family car can cause lengthy student absences. Then there’s a lack of parental support, something MUSD administrators are addressing through better communications with parents. “Middle school kids tell the parents, ‘I’m sick, I don’t want to go to school,’” Pastor said. “The parents let it go too easily.” Student counselors and teachers often come into play, contacting parents to find out why their child’s attendance is low. M
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$8.5 Billion. A Super Bowl's Worth of Economic Activity Every Year for Nearly Two Decades That's right. A recent economic study found that when in production the Cactus Mine will generate more than $8.5 billion in Western Pinal County. That's the equivalent of hosting a Super Bowl in Casa Grande and Maricopa every year for 18 years. That's right. A recent economic study found that when in production the Cactus Mine will generate more than $8.5 billion in Western Pinal County. That's the equivalent of hosting a Super Bowl in Casa Grande and Maricopa every year for 18 years. $8.5 Billion. A Super Bowl's Worth of Economic Activity Every Year for Nearly Two Decades
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to come back,” Meach said. “Relationships with their peers and staff are a great motivator to come to school.” She cites Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, in which the importance of relationships and a sense of belonging are important to influencing a person’s foundational work to self-actualization and self-fulfillment.
Poor attendance can lead to psycho-social effects in students who are missing crucial instruction and social interaction with peers, which can lead to insecurities, said Pima Butte Elementary School counselor Lawrena Meach. “The most successful approach that we use to encourage students to attend class is to create a welcoming environment that urges students
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InMaricopa.com | March 2024
March 2024 | InMaricopa.com
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