The Link Between School Attendance and Good Health

Abstract

More than 6.5 million children in the United States, approximately 13% of all students, miss 15 or more days of school each year. The rates of chronic absenteeism vary between states, communities, and schools, with significant disparities based on income, race, and ethnicity. Chronic school absenteeism, starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, puts students at risk for poor school performance and school dropout, which in turn, put them at risk for unhealthy behaviors as adolescents and young adults as well as poor longterm health outcomes. Pediatricians and their colleagues caring for children in the medical setting have opportunities at the individual patient and/or family, practice, and population levels to promote school attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism and resulting health disparities. Although this policy statement is primarily focused on absenteeism related to students' physical and mental health, pediatricians may play a role in addressing absenteeism attributable to a wide range of factors through individual interactions with patients and their parents and through community-, state-, and federal-level advocacy.

Chronic school absenteeism as a diagnostic clue for paediatricians

“…Chronic school absenteeism is defined as being absent for at least 15% of days of a school year for any reason justified of not …”

“…It could start already in kindergarten and first‐grade school, but it tends to increase in middle and high school. Early chronic absenteeism is strongly related to school dropout, so paediatricians should promote school attendance, investigate and give value to absenteeism at any age …”

“…They should schedule appointments outside school hours whenever possible, and arrange with school staff individual plans for children with chronic diseases to limit the absences. They should communicate and collaborate with school professionals to promote attendance and provide support to these young patients and their families' when they start to miss school …”

“…3 Therefore, paediatricians should learn how to manage patients with school absenteeism and actively promote school attendance in order to help children and adolescents to reach their full potential and to prevent dangerous behaviours.Chronic school absenteeism is defined as being absent for at least 15% of days of a school year for any reason justified of not. 4,5 It could start already in kindergarten and first-grade school, but it tends to increase in middle and high school. Early chronic absenteeism is strongly related to school dropout, so paediatricians should promote school attendance, investigate and give value to absenteeism at any age.…”

Why school is important: It's more than education

“…About 13% of students across the United States miss 15 or more days of school a year. Chronic absenteeism makes children more at risk for poor long‐term health outcomes, according to research published in Pediatrics , the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.…”