Evaluating State-School-Family (In)congruence in the Root Causes and Approaches to Reduce Absenteeism

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Participation and Power: Global Perspectives on Voice and Rights in Education Governance

Abstract

This study investigates the alignment between Georgia’s state-level strategies to combat chronic absenteeism and the perspectives of students and families most affected by it. Grounded in ecological systems theory, it combines interviews with state policymakers and focus groups with students and caregivers in districts that have successfully mitigated absenteeism. Findings aim to illuminate whether policies addressing post-pandemic absenteeism are responsive to wellbeing-related factors expressed by communities they intend to serve.

Authors

• Monica Flamini, Governor's Office of Student Achievement

• Shuyang Wang, The Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GA)

• Tiyanna Peterson, Michigan State University

• Jerome Graham, Michigan State University

• Daphne M. Penn, Vanderbilt University

• Richard O. Welsh, Vanderbilt University