From the Desk of CASEL Chronic absenteeism is a national crisis, with roughly 1 in 5 students missing 10 percent or more of the school year. That’s why we were encouraged by the introduction of the All in for Attendance Act in Congress on Monday, which supports approaches that offer a systemic strategy to ensure that school is a place where students want to be. This bill resonates with the current developments in Oregon, where I recently addressed the state legislature’s Attendance Working Group. I know Oregon well, having supported their efforts to improve attendance prior to coming to CASEL. During the meeting, we discussed how chronic absenteeism requires deeper solutions than nudge letters and data teams. The answer lay in transforming school and classroom culture. That means building stronger relationships with students and parents and infusing the entire education environment with a sense of connection and belonging. The districts who had seen the most success improving attendance found schools must be places where students feel known, valued, and supported, and where they experience a sense of community with peers and adults. That’s where SEL comes in. At CASEL, we are committed to bringing these kinds of solutions to a wider audience. You may have already seen our recent email focused on the problem. Stay tuned for our new efforts to support schools and districts in tackling absenteeism (see below) as well as research, publications, and support for policies and legislation that leverage SEL to ensure all students feel a sense of connection and belonging in school. Stay tuned and join the conversation with us! |