Chronic absenteeism improves at Des Moines schools
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Some Des Moines schools are testing out new incentives to address pandemic-induced spikes in chronic absenteeism.
Why it matters: Attendance is one of the most powerful influences in determining if a student will graduate from high school — even more than academic performance, DMPS superintendent Ian Roberts shared during a school board meeting Tuesday.
State of play: Chronic absenteeism spiked to 50% in 2021–22, but has steadily decreased to 47% in 2022–23 and 44% in 2023–24.
- But six schools this year already have 50% or more students considered chronically absent, including East, Lincoln and North high schools, according to district data.
- Students who miss 10% or more of their classes are considered chronically absent.
Zoom in: A bright spot this year is improved attendance at the majority of Des Moines schools, particularly King Elementary. Thirty-three percent of students were chronically absent from the school last year, but that's decreased to just 13% this year during the same period, per data presented at the meeting.
How it happened: School officials spent more time conducting home visits and figuring out individual ways to bridge attendance gaps, like delivering winter clothes and helping with food pantry access.
- Teachers also called home after three days of absences.
- Chronically absent students also earned a "Not Tardy Party" for attending school.
Plus: DMPS is piloting free busing for preschoolers at nine schools to improve early childhood program attendance.
Zoom out: In response to statewide chronic absenteeism, the Iowa Legislature this year passed a law requiring schools to send certified mail to families whose students have missed 10% or more of their classes for the academic period.
- Per the law, if a student is absent 20% or more during an academic period, the school must refer the guardian to the county attorney's office for truancy considerations.
Reality check: It's costly to send certified mail. DMPS has set aside $81,000 in its budget this year alone, Roberts said, which could have paid for more staffing.
- Some school board members also worry about the anxieties that legal troubles could impose on parents.
What they're saying: The district's goal is to be supportive, rather than punitive — but Roberts said that's a delicate balance with the state's new law.
The bottom line: "If we have students sitting in seats, we're going to be able to move the needle, but if we don't, we're going to see the challenges widely," he said.