YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona's Superintendent of Public Instruction is calling for schools to fight the high rate of student absences. "Helios Foundation" data for Arizona shows a high level of absences among students across nearly every grade level in the 2022 to 2023 school year compared to levels prior to the pandemic. Helios showing rates of about 30% compared to just 9% before COVID. "The idea that a third of our students are missing 18 days of school or more is a real catastrophe and an emergency for our state. We need radical efforts to solve this problem. We have to create a motivation for parents to be sure their children go to school," said Superintendent Tom Horne. Current absence policies are set by local schools, but Horne is asking schools to adopt a measure that would make five tardies count as an absense. Nine unexcused absences would result in a student failing a course, and people in Yuma are sharing their reaction. "I think it's important that they should be there. They need to have that social experience with the other students as well," said winter visitor Dawn Crawford.
"You've got to be accountable. Yes, there are certain kids that they got medical issues. They're gonna miss a lot of school. They've got other issues going on. But kids have to be accountable, parents have to be accountable, and if they're not, there's got to be consequences," said local visitor Steve Kissan. Another local says there should be consequences for absences and that it makes it difficult to teach when students aren't present.
"A person that misses a couple of days of school need to be caught up and the teachers feel they've got to catch them up, so the other people are always waiting for that person that wants to skip school," said local Colley Wayne. However, local districts like Crane say they have proudly decreased chronic absenteeism by 12.6% by the end of the 2023 to 2024 school year. "The Crane Elementary School District is dedicated to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed academically, and consistent school attendance is essential to achieving this goal. Reducing chronic absenteeism has been a priority for our district, and we are proud to share that from the end of the 2023 school year to the end of the 2024 school year, we successfully decreased chronic absenteeism by 12.6%. This progress reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting students and families. We believe that a multifaceted approach—one that includes working collaboratively with parents, creating a positive and engaging learning environment, and motivating students to stay involved in their education—is key to sustained success. We are grateful for the partnership of our families, staff, and community members as we continue to focus on improving attendance and student achievement. Together, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive." "Showing up on time for school each day is a key factor in student success. The reason for a student's chronic absenteeism may vary by each individual. Our schools work together with families to identify their unique situations and seek remedies that meet the needs of each family."
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"You've got to be accountable. Yes, there are certain kids that they got medical issues. They're gonna miss a lot of school. They've got other issues going on. But kids have to be accountable, parents have to be accountable, and if they're not, there's got to be consequences," said local visitor Steve Kissan. Another local says there should be consequences for absences and that it makes it difficult to teach when students aren't present.
"A person that misses a couple of days of school need to be caught up and the teachers feel they've got to catch them up, so the other people are always waiting for that person that wants to skip school," said local Colley Wayne. However, local districts like Crane say they have proudly decreased chronic absenteeism by 12.6% by the end of the 2023 to 2024 school year. "The Crane Elementary School District is dedicated to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed academically, and consistent school attendance is essential to achieving this goal. Reducing chronic absenteeism has been a priority for our district, and we are proud to share that from the end of the 2023 school year to the end of the 2024 school year, we successfully decreased chronic absenteeism by 12.6%. This progress reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting students and families. We believe that a multifaceted approach—one that includes working collaboratively with parents, creating a positive and engaging learning environment, and motivating students to stay involved in their education—is key to sustained success. We are grateful for the partnership of our families, staff, and community members as we continue to focus on improving attendance and student achievement. Together, we can ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive." "Showing up on time for school each day is a key factor in student success. The reason for a student's chronic absenteeism may vary by each individual. Our schools work together with families to identify their unique situations and seek remedies that meet the needs of each family."
