OCALA, FL (352today.com) – In Marion County, a big problem has come up with students missing a lot of school, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
You might not have heard the term “chronically absent” before, but Kevin Christian, Director of Public Relations for Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) says that it’s becoming more important as schools try to deal with the effects of students being away for so long.
Last school year, 32% of students in MCPS were considered chronically absent. This year, Christian says that 15% of students have already been marked as chronically absent since school started on August 12.
To tackle this problem, MCPS has started its yearly attendance campaign called “Be Present, Be Powerful!” Christian says this program works together with the national campaign from Attendance Works to highlight how missing school can really impact a student’s learning and success.
He explains that the main idea of “Be Present, Be Powerful!” highlights how important it is for students to show up regularly in school, noting that whether in preschool or high school, being there consistently is the foundation for both learning and making friends. In Florida, if students skip school even a few days each month, it can lead to truancy, which means they miss out on a lot of valuable class time.
Christian shares that many studies show that missing school a lot can really hurt students. Kids who often skip classes tend to have a harder time reading, fall behind in their schoolwork during middle school, and may find it tough to graduate from high school on time.
Even though the daily attendance rate is currently at 94.33%, Christian says that history shows that chronic absenteeism tends to rise as the school year goes on. He says that last year there was a slight improvement, with the average daily attendance hitting 90.91%, which was the best it had been since the pandemic.
MCPS is encouraging parents, families, caregivers, and the whole community to work together to help improve student attendance. Christian says that they understand that things like sickness or personal issues can sometimes keep students from coming to school, but having everyone’s support is really important to make sure every student is there and counted every day.
The key message of “Be Present, Be Powerful!” is not just about the number of attendees. Christian explains that it aims to provide every student with equal opportunities to learn the skills and confidence necessary for success in school, work, and life, which in turn helps the whole community.