“It Takes a Village”: Tackling Chronic Absenteeism
Students cannot receive an education if they don’t go to school, and 26% of public-school students nationwide were chronically absent during the last school year. In New York City public schools, 200,000 students - about a quarter of the student body - missed at least 10 percent (~18 days) of the school year. These statistics, nearly double what they were pre-pandemic, suggest a concerning shift in the public consciousness around school and in-person learning.
Created in response to alarming rates of absenteeism, the Y’s Attendance Success Champions (ASC) program is reigniting an enthusiasm for classroom learning and social development. As a social emotional learning and case management program, ASC offers personalized care to identify the reasons why kindergarten and first grade students become chronically absent and support them and their families through those circumstances. The program operates at 15 sites across the five boroughs and served 615 students in the last three full semesters (2022-2023, fall 2023).
A crucial aspect of our program is education—for students, families and communities. Many families and their children struggled with the transition to in-person learning post-pandemic and may not fully grasp the long-term implications of missed school days. As our Community Wellness Program Manager Moire Layden notes, just two absences a month can quickly escalate to chronic absenteeism, impacting a child's academic and social development for years to come.
Whether it's employment obligations, logistical challenges, or lack of awareness about the consequences of absenteeism, there are various barriers that families face. With a focus on K-1 students, who often rely on their guardians for transportation, we emphasize the importance of family involvement in ensuring consistent attendance. Through regular check-ins and holistic support, we aim to address these barriers and empower families to prioritize school attendance. Our data from parent surveys show that some of the biggest contributors to absenteeism are the guardians’ employment schedules, vacations, inclement weather, and mental health.
Strong partnerships with participating schools are key to addressing these factors, says Marie Choi, the Y’s Senior Director of Community Programs. "It’s critical that the school administration and the Y align on goals and strategies to support students because at the end of the day, the administration is a key part in the day-to-day activities at the schools." This collaborative approach has proven effective—P.S. 38 in Harlem saw an overall 11% increase in attendance and improved attendance among 83% of participants. Similarly, P.S. 26 in Jamaica, Queens reported an average increase of 12% in attendance and improvement among 89% of participants.
Our approach is rooted in data, and enriched by anecdotes and insights from parent surveys, ASC staff, and school attendance teams. We partner with our school administration to identify students that are chronically absent or are at risk and develop incentives, interventions, and events tailored to the needs of each cohort of students. In fall 2023, ASC sites ran 88 events to improve attendance and celebrate student success.
As we prepare to welcome a new cohort of kindergarteners this fall, born during the COVID era, we remain vigilant about the evolving needs and challenges they may face. Through ongoing support and community engagement, we are committed to empowering families and fostering a culture of consistent school attendance.
“Just knowing that our staff are there to help families address barriers and overcome challenges that they may be facing to get their young people to school, to experience education, especially with younger families or new American families is rewarding,” Layden said. “It takes a village to raise a child.”
Champions of Service: The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
In our ongoing mission to empower New York City youth, the Y is proud to shine a spotlight on our invaluable partnership with the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. At the heart of our collaboration lies a shared dedication to empowering individuals and families to live healthier, more fulfilled lives. The Foundation serves hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in need through charitable giving, underscoring their commitment to upholding their namesake.
With the Foundation's generous support, we launched our Attendance Success Champions (ASC) program in 2022, amplifying our efforts in combatting chronic absenteeism among kindergarten and first grade NYC students. Since the launch of the program, the Foundation has played a pivotal role in helping us to bridge educational gaps and nurture a culture of confidence among NYC youth, improving attendance and educational outcomes for hundreds of young people.
Junelle Addei, LMSW, Program Associate at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, shared with us: “Chronic absenteeism has a deeply negative impact on children’s academic and social emotional development, and research demonstrates lost schooling is greater in the early grades. However, factors such as faculty-family trust, academic emphasis, and collective efficacy make a key difference in students’ outcomes. We are proud to support Attendance Success Champions, which works to close achievement gaps among children from under-resourced communities and gives youth the opportunity to maximize their full potential.”
Their recent two-year grant of $600,000 is a transformative investment in ASC, enabling us to deepen our impact in improving attendance outcomes for students in underserved communities.
As we continue to forge ahead this school year, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for their partnership in building brighter futures for generations of New Yorkers.
Attendance Success Champions
At its core, ASC leverages data tracking and empirical evidence to effectively combat learning loss and improve attendance outcomes in underserved communities. Through close collaboration with our partner schools and insight from parent surveys, ASC offers a supportive environment that cultivates a love of learning and motivation to excel.
From the first cohort of 212 students, 58% showed improved attendance from fall to spring semesters. With an expanded reach to 15 sites and over 615 students served in the last three semesters, we look forward to deepening our impact in the communities that need us most.
The Y’s Day of Giving is 5/22!
In celebration of 172 years of serving New Yorkers, we’re on a mission to rally 1,000 donors in just 24 hours, and we can’t do it without you. Your participation is crucial in creating lasting, meaningful change in our communities.
The icing on the cake? Every donation brings us closer to unlocking a $50,000 gift when we reach 1,000 donors, amplifying our collective impact. Our birthday wish is to make this Y Day of Giving count for our community—will you join us?
