Chronic Absenteeism: Breaking the Vicious Cycle for Students of Color

Published March 27, 2024 on Ed Post.

The hallways of our nation’s schools should be filled with the sounds of learning and growth. But for far too many students of color, those hallways are marred by the toxic cloud of bullying and harassment. This ugly reality is a major contributor to the alarmingly high rates of chronic absenteeism among Black students in particular.  

The data is distressing. According to the Department of Education, Black students are 40% more likely to be chronically absent (lose three weeks of school or more). Research shows that missing just two days a month can put students at risk of falling behind academically. Chronic absenteeism is one of the top indicators that a student is becoming disengaged from school.

Why are Black students disproportionately disconnected? A key factor is the systemic racism that manifests as bullying and discriminatory discipline in our classrooms. Students of color face dehumanizing harassment at tremendously disproportionate rates. As a 2021 report found, Black boys, in particular, are over five times as likely as their white male peers to be harassed based on their race, sex, and disability status.

The psychological toll of enduring a hostile environment is crushing for any child or adolescent. It contributes to heightened anxiety, low self-esteem, and avoidance behaviors, like skipping school. Absences lead to lower achievement and higher dropout rates, feeding a vicious cycle of marginalization.

Schools must implement proven strategies to foster inclusive and affirmative cultures where people celebrate diversity.

Creating such an environment requires comprehensive anti-bullying policies, anti-bias teacher training, and student social-emotional support. Discriminatory discipline practices like disproportionately suspending and expelling Black students for minor, subjective infractions like “defiance” or “disrespect” push many out of the classroom unnecessarily. The racist legacy of harsher punishment for students of color continues to erode their connectedness to school.

Read the full article on Ed Post.