To address post-pandemic chronic absenteeism, schools are exploring unconventional strategies such as offering steep payouts, ice cream incentives, and even laundry machines to encourage student attendance.
Chronic absenteeism remains a significant concern post-pandemic, with approximately 6.5 million students missing at least 10% of the school year. To combat this issue, schools across the United States are implementing innovative and often unconventional strategies to entice students back to classrooms.
One such initiative has emerged in Detroit Public Schools, where washing machines are being installed in schools to assist students from lower-income households. Parent Melania Willis, whose son attends a local high school, expressed her appreciation for the initiative, explaining that it alleviates the burden of having to pay for laundry services, particularly for those who lack access to running water or face financial constraints.
Tackling Chronic Absenteeism: Schools Innovate with Unconventional Strategies
The washing machines were acquired through collaborations between the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, charitable donations, and an investment from GE Appliances. Willis highlighted the transformative impact of these machines on students' lives, noting that one student approached her requesting assistance with washing their clothes due to the lack of laundry facilities at home.
Another teacher, Janine Scott from Davis Aerospace Technical High School, observed that a student's perceived poor hygiene was actually a result of an unwashed hoodie. She indicated that this problem extends to younger students, who may resort to covering up odors or skipping class altogether out of embarrassment.
Tackling Chronic Absenteeism: Schools Innovate with Unconventional Strategies
Detroit Public Schools has been particularly hard-hit by chronic absenteeism, with two-thirds of its students falling into this category. In response, more than half of the district's 108 schools have installed laundry appliances, providing convenience and access to clean clothes for students.
In addition to washing machines, schools are exploring other incentives to boost attendance. Ohio lawmakers proposed a bill offering cash rewards for students who attend school consistently, but it failed to pass. In Rhode Island, some schools have implemented positive reinforcement measures such as ice cream socials and extended recess time for students with good attendance records.
Tackling Chronic Absenteeism: Schools Innovate with Unconventional Strategies
The pandemic has exacerbated the problem of chronic absenteeism, and schools are striving to find creative solutions to re-engage students. By providing practical assistance like laundry facilities and offering incentives like cash rewards or fun activities, schools are aiming to break down barriers that prevent students from attending school regularly.
The success of these unconventional strategies remains to be evaluated, but they reflect a growing recognition that traditional approaches to attendance may no longer be effective in the post-pandemic landscape. Schools are adapting to meet the changing needs of their students and communities, and the results of these innovative efforts will be closely monitored in the months and years to come.
Tackling Chronic Absenteeism: Schools Innovate with Unconventional Strategies
