INCREASING SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Statement and Primary Evidence of the Problem

Evidence suggests that the ninth graders at Thomas Jefferson High School have a student attendance problem; this evidence is comprehensively reported (as data) in the "Problem Definition and Evidence Section" of this chapter; however, it can be summarized here as follows:

1) The overall attendance rate of ninth grade students during the 1995-1996 school term was significantly lower than the rate observed for the school as a whole during that same term; in other words, the ninth grade had more student absences than the school as a whole.

2) The ninth grade class for the 1995-1996 school term had the highest school-wide rate of grade failure, and grade failure is positively correlated with elevated levels of student absence (Rohrman, 1993);

3) The ninth grade class for the 1995-1996 school term had higher rates of school suspension than any of the other classes and school suspension is positively correlated with school absence in much of the existing research on school absence, and truancy (Rohrman, 1993);

4) Of the 500 students comprising the ninth grade for the 1995-1996 school term, almost one-half of the students failed at least one class and class failure is positively correlated with school absence in much of the existing research on school absence and truancy (Rohrman, 1993);

. . .
iddle school students (Mitchell, 1991); students with disabilities (Boyce, White & Kerr, 1993); and preschool children (Landerholm & Lowenthal, 1993). There have, however, been far fewer empirical studies of parent involvement programs in relation to improving school absence for high school students. So the extent to which the foregoing list of benefits may apply to parent involvement programs for high school students is not as well determined by the existing research. Summary Evidence was presented indicating that there is a problem with the student attendance levels of ninth grade students at Thomas Jefferson High School. Specifically, this evidence revealed that the ninth grade students had the highest overall rates of student absences, grade failures, class failures and suspensions. Since existing research indicated that grade failures, class failures and suspensions are associated with elevated levels of student absences, these phenomena may be considered indirect evidence not only that there is a problem but also that the problem is associated with severe consequences. Investigation of possible causes of student attendance revealed a variety of causal factors. Based on the presented review of the literature,
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Approximate Word count = 3819
Approximate Pages = 15 (250 words per page)

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