In an educational landscape that demands our acute attention, CFEED commends the Helios Education Foundation for its insightful examination of chronic absenteeism, which has revealed a worrying 43% increase in absence rates among students in Orange and Osceola School Districts. This pivotal research aligns with national studies that echo the alarming patterns observed by Helios in Florida and Arizona, highlighting the essential role of consistent school attendance as a foundation for successful learning.
Delve into the comprehensive study and its implications by clicking here.
The research clarifies the definition of chronic absenteeism as the absence of ten or more school days a year and repetitive absenteeism as similar absenteeism across four or more school years. This definition sets it apart from the Florida Department of Education’s broader criteria of missing 10 percent or more of the school year.
The Helios study, co-conducted with CFEED, stands out for its extensive analysis covering 82,118 high school seniors across five years, exposing the profound effects of absenteeism on academic performance and college preparedness at institutions like Valencia College and UCF.
It further unveils a stark correlation: repetitively absent students are more likely to struggle academically, particularly in advanced courses. Notably, nearly half of the 2022 cohort with repetitive absenteeism in high school were deemed unprepared for post-secondary education. This fact highlights the critical role of consistent school attendance, not just for educational success but as a foundational professional behavior.
The vision team meeting, a recent gathering of Central Florida’s educational leaders, also spotlighted these findings, sharing strategies to address this widespread issue. For an in-depth look at the discussions and strategies, follow this link.
Chronic absenteeism is not an isolated issue but a national crisis impacting educational ecosystems throughout the United States. Its ramifications extend beyond academic achievement, potentially influencing career longevity and stability. The gravity of this issue has garnered attention far and wide, as demonstrated by its feature on local news networks. For a visual summary and expert insights into why combating chronic absenteeism is pivotal for the academic and professional futures of students, see the coverage below.
At CFEED, in collaboration with Helios, we utilize analytics to comprehend and tackle absenteeism and similar educational challenges. Stay updated with our ongoing efforts and discoveries by following us on LinkedIn.
With a commitment to data-informed approaches and collective action, we aim to combat absenteeism, ensuring the success of students from their K-12 experiences to their advancement into higher education and beyond.
For more information, contact Diana Pienaar, CFEED Director, Valencia College, at dpienaar@valenciacollege.edu or visit http://www.cfeedhome.com.
About CFEED
The CFEED partnership includes Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), School District of Osceola County (SDOC), University of Central Florida (UCF), Valencia College and Midtown Consulting Group. With support from Helios Education Foundation, CFEED partners are engaged in a Collaborative Design Phase to grow organizational capacity and develop hypotheses on student readiness, through an innovative project intended to support student success all along the pre-kindergarten to postsecondary continuum. The Central Florida Education Eco System Database (CFEED) brings together four large-scale education institutions under one collaborative initiative, funded by Helios Education Foundation, to share information, identify opportunities to enhance learning, and propel the educational attainment of all Central Florida students.
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