records. GEDs are not considered.
This review of the literature discusses issues relevant to the topic of the relationship between absenteeism and high school graduation. The effects of student health, family background, sibling similarity, working during school, attendance at Catholic private schools, and peers on high school performance and graduation are discussed since these factors may be related to absenteeism.
The study of school absenteeism has included investigation regarding the effects of health problems on student performance. The American Academy of Family Physicians (1989) reported that childhood asthma is the cause of school absenteeism more than any other chronic illness. A study of 99 children with this problem, were evaluated to determine relationships between asthma, absenteeism, and academic achievement. Findings showed that an average of 40 school days was missed in the previous year. Despite this fact it was also found that academic performances were average or above average. Factors associated with poor performance were low socioeconomic status, older age, history of emotional and behavioral problems, and a history of continuous oral steroid use. Absenteeism was not related to poor academic performance when these factors were controlled for. It was concluded that when a child is motivated, absenteeism is not related to poor academic performance (AAFP, 1989). While this study did not correlate absenteeism with high school graduation, it does not support the fact that absenteeism would be related to graduation since it is not related to poor academic performance.
AAFP (1989) concluded that student motivation is related to academic performance rather than absenteeism. Betts and Morell (1999) studied the effects of family variables and high school resources on high school grade point average (GPA). Findings showed that the personal background of the student to include their sex, ethnicity, ...