The Complex Associations Between School Climate and Student Absenteeism in Detroit

• In Event: 41.018 - Organizing Schools for Student Social and Academic Outcomes

Abstract

Absenteeism is a critical factor in the crucial academic educational outcomes of student achievement, scores on standardized tests, and graduation rates. Yet, the factors that contribute to student absenteeism are complex, with environmental, non-structural (student/family), and structural (school-based) factors all potentially affecting the likelihood of a student attending school regularly. This exploratory study uses school-level data to understand the problem of absenteeism in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Our preliminary findings suggest a significant relationship between school climate, as measure by the 5 Essentials survey instruments, and student chronic absenteeism. This measure of climate may be mediating the strong association between student poverty and absenteeism that we found across the schools in the district.

Authors

• Ben Pogodzinski, Wayne State University

• Sarah Winchell Lenhoff, Wayne State University