NYC School Absenteeism Remains High: Pandemic's Lasting Impact?

NYC School Absenteeism Remains Stubbornly High

Despite students returning to in-person learning following COVID-19 lockdowns, chronic absenteeism in New York City public schools remains alarmingly high. The latest data from the Mayor’s Management Report reveals that nearly 35% of students missed at least 10% of the school year during 2023-24, a figure that has barely budged from the previous year.

Before the pandemic, chronic absenteeism rates typically hovered around 25%. Experts like David Bloomfield, a professor of education law and policy, express concern about the lack of progress in reversing this trend, stating, "Persistent absenteeism has become routine for too many students and families. School attendance stopped being habitual; it stopped being routine."

The pandemic exacerbated the problem, with absenteeism spiking to 41% during the 2021-22 school year as students navigated the transition back to classrooms amidst ongoing health concerns. Even with vaccine availability and a fading health crisis, attendance remains inconsistent.

Several factors contribute to this persistent problem. Advocates for Children highlight issues with school transportation, particularly impacting migrant families due to a policy requiring frequent shelter moves. Mental health concerns among young adults have also led to increased school avoidance.

Sarah Part, a senior policy analyst at Advocates for Children, emphasizes the urgent need to address this issue: "There really needs to be a concerted effort to focus on this issue...students have to be in school to benefit from [educational initiatives] to have the kind of impact we want."

The Department of Education has stated that it has various programs designed to target chronically absent students, and officials aim to lower the rate to 29%. However, the city's administration acknowledges the ongoing challenge, emphasizing the need for continued efforts.

While Mayor Adams highlighted positive progress in other areas during a recent press conference, the persistence of high absenteeism rates underscores the significant challenges facing the city's education system.