absence reasons study amy wiseman, susan dawson, mohan rao 06/11/13 health & community student...

Absence Reasons Study

Amy Wiseman, Susan Dawson, Mohan Rao 06/11/13

Health & Community

Student Attendance

Academic Achievement

Individual, Family

Outcomes

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Summit Agenda• Introductions• Attendance in Central Texas• Absence Reasons Study methods• High level findingsDiscussion of high level findings• Detailed findings for actionDiscussion of potential community actions• Share ‘big ideas’ and next steps

E3 Alliance uses objective data and focused community collaboration to align our education

systems so all students succeed and lead Central Texas to economic prosperity

Mission

E3 Alliance is a Catalyst For Educational Change in Central Texas

E3 serves as the Central Texasregional P-16 Council

MISSION AND PURPOSE

COH enables communities to visualize the health of their neighborhoods, identify assets and needs, unearth and nurture opportunities for collaborative change and monitor outcomes over time through GIS mapping and related analysis applied to public and privately held data sets.

THANK YOU COH Board of Directors

Seton Healthcare Family*

St. David’s Foundation*

Central Health*

University of Texas*

Lone Star Circle of Care*

City of Austin*

Austin Independent School District

H-E-B*

Early Childhood Community

E3 Alliance

Lifeworks

Housing Authority of the City of Austin

Communities in Schools of Central Texas

* Denotes funding member

THANKS!

Aliya HussainiBrenda RichmondEllen RichardsEric MetcalfElsa HinojosaFreddie McFarlandJesse SimmonsJohn-Michael CortezKatherine WrightLynda Acosta

Maureen BrittonRachel LadovRosamaria MurilloRuth RobertsSally FreemanSari McCoySusan MilleaStephen PontTracy Diggs LunoffTodd Hemingson

Advisory Board Members:

MISSING SCHOOL MATTERS

Background• E3 Alliance spearheading regional approach to

increase student attendance• Have better descriptive data than ever before• Community awareness campaign underway• Far too little objective data to target systems

changes• Have worked with schools, health community to

design ground-breaking absence reasons study

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Early Successes• Missing School Matters Campaign branded,

supplied, launched– Aligned with AARO CAT Committee– And new MSM Taskforce

• Get Schooled Challenge in 20 schools– 5 schools in Top 25 Nationwide– Stony Point HS Nationwide winner

• Goal: 2 percentage point improvement in attendance by 2014₌ Improved student achievement₌ $34M to Central Texas schools

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Virtuous or Vicious Cycle?

Health & Community

Student Attendance


Individual, Family

Outcomes

Have Data Significant national studies

Need better information to make better decisions and allocate services & resources better

© 2013 E3 Alliance

ATTENDANCE IN CENTRAL TEXAS

Over 300,000 Students in Central Texas

2.4 MillionStudent Absences in

Central Texas per Year

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center; 2010-2011 school year. © 2013 E3 Alliance

Central Texas has More Absences than Texas on Average at Every Grade

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center. © 2012 E3 Alliance

KG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 120

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Absences in 2009-10

Central TexasTexas

Grade

Aver

age

Day

s Ab

sent

Poorest Students Have Much Higher Absenteeism

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center.

Non-Low Income Free Lunch0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

57

10

16

12

16

8

15

Absences Central Texas High Schools, 2009-10

Asian Black Hispanic White

Aver

age

Day

s Ab

sent

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Graduation Rates for Low Income Students in Central Texas Consistently Lower than in Texas

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20100%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Central Texas - Not Low Income

Texas - Not Low Income

Central Texas - Low Income

Texas - Low Income

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of high school graduation data at the UT Educational Resource Center

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Central Texas Low Income Graduation Rates Among Lowest in State

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 201055%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

Texas San Antonio Rio Grande ValleyHouston El Paso DallasCentral Texas

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of high school graduation data at the UT Educational Resource Center

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Average Absences for Low Income Students in Central Texas Higher than in Texas

Not Low Income Low Income0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

8

11

8

13

Texas Central TexasGrade Level

Ave

rag

e D

ays

Ab

sen

t

Average Number of Absences by Grade and Economic Status, 2011-12

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at the UT Educational Resource Center © 2013 E3 Alliance

What We Know• Students miss far too much school• Low Income students miss more in Central

Texas• Missing school correlates directly with poor

academic outcomes and with higher BMI• Where overall absenteeism is geographically

• Which students miss school why, with what frequency, where

What We Don’t Know

© 2013 E3 Alliance

What We Don’t Know…• How many students miss because of illness?• Which students miss because of chronic

versus acute illness?• What percent of absences are asthma or

diabetes related?• How do health-related absences relate to

other at-risk factors, such as teen pregnancy?• Are there demographic or geographic patterns

related to different types of absences?

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Reason Code Study: The Bottom Line

First of its kind study in the state (maybe US?)Data to drive regional decision-making

How health and community systems interact with student attendance and achievement

Direct benefit to participating schoolsDesigned to be representative of regional population

to benefit whole district, Central Texas regionFunded by St. David’s Foundation, Central Health

© 2013 E3 Alliance

ABSENCE REASONS STUDY METHODS

Key Research Questions

1. What reasons for student absences do we see and what is their prevalence for Central Texas students?

2. Are there different reasons why different student groups are absent?

3. What other health, geographic, and “at-risk” factors are associated with different absence reasons and might influence community decisions about interventions?– e.g. neighborhood, availability of medical and dental services,

etc.

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Design of Absence Reasons Study• Conducted national literature review on

reasons for absence• Determined original research needed

– This study is first of its kind nationally!• Developed absence reasons based on lit review

and local discussion (see handouts) • Chose districts and schools to be

demographically representative of region– 9 schools (5 ES, 2 MS, 2 HS) in 2 Districts

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Absence Reasons Study Participation

• Trained study personnel to collect detailed codes with consistency

• Proactively introduced study to parents – Parents reached for 93% of absences– Only 0.5% of parents (1 in 200) opted out

Study Limitations• Answers about absence reasons

Parent self-report of reasonOR Coding personnel interprets parent description and determines code

• Do not know if parents sharing real reason

© 2013 E3 Alliance

DEMOGRAPHICS AND DISTRICT COMPARISON

Student Demographics

• 8959 students• 50% Low Income – exact same as region• Ethnic breakdown

• 42% At-risk – region 39%– PISD 15% more students At-risk

© 2013 E3 AllianceSource: E3 Alliance analysis of PISD & HCISD demographic data for 2012-13

Study Sample Region

Asian 4% 4%

Black 16% 9%

Hispanic 53% 47%

White 27% 40%

3536373839404142434445464748495051 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1012130

50

100

150

200

250

300

350Absences By Week August – March for 2012-13

HCISD PISD

Week of the Year

Ave

rag

e #

Ab

sen

ces

Per

Day

August March

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of Absence data from 9 schools inPISD & HCISD August through March 2012-13 © 2013 E3 Alliance

Absences over Time Remarkably Similar Across Districts

3536373839404142434445464748495051 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1012130

50

100

150

200

250

300


HCISD PISD

Week of the Year

Ave

rag

e #

Ab

sen

ces

Per

Day

August MarchStudy Period


Absences over Time Remarkably Similar Across Districts

Hays and Pflugerville have Similar Proportions of Absence Reasons

• Absence reasons were consistent across both districts– However more asthma and skipping in PISD– Some differences between middle schools

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of Absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13 © 2013 E3 Alliance

STUDY ABSENCES AND REASONS

16,800Student Absences in

9 Schools Across 8 Weeks

© 2013 E3 AllianceSource: E3 Alliance analysis of absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13

Does not include time out of class related to school events or on site at another campus

Top 10 Reasons for Absence: 72% of Absences

Family Responsibility

Suspension (not ISS)

Mental Health Issue

Travel

Preventative Medical

Routine Dental Appt

Family Emergency

Chronic Illness Comb.

Skipping

Acute Illness

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

1%

1%

2%

2%

2%

3%

4%

4%

5%

48%

% of Absences by Absence Reason

(751)

(707)

(654)

(465)

(352)

(326)

(254)

(247)

(173)

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13 © 2013 E3 Alliance

(8124)

Less Common Reasons Are 4% Combined(630 Absences Total)


• Family Logistics• Asthma• College Visit• Transportation Issue• Court/Legal• Dental Treatment• Student’s Child Sick

Rare Absence Reasons (200 Absences Total)

• Diabetes• School Refusal• Missed Bus• Obtain Driver’s License• Runaway• Join Military• Dental Pain• At Work

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13 © 2013 E3 Alliance

DISCUSSION OF OVERALL FINDINGS


Suspension (not ISS)

Mental Health Issue

Travel

Preventative Medical

Routine Dental Appt

Family Emergency

Chronic Illness Comb.

Skipping

Acute Illness

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

1%

1%

2%

2%

2%

3%

4%

4%

5%

48%

Percentage of Absences by Absence Reason


• How aware were you of the importance of attendance for student success?

• Were you aware of how varied absence reasons are?

• What findings were most surprising?

DETAILED FINDINGS

Medical Absences More Variable Than Non-Medical Absences Over Time

14-J

an

17-J

an

20-J

an

23-J

an

26-J

an

29-J

an

1-Feb

4-Feb

7-Feb

10-F

eb

13-F

eb

16-F

eb

19-F

eb

22-F

eb

25-F

eb

28-F

eb

3-M

ar0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Medical Non-medical

Study Week

Nu

mb

er o

f S

tud

ents

Ab

sen

t


Acute Illnesses Match Overall Absence Pattern

3536373839404142434445464748495051 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1012130

50

100

150

200

250

300


HCISD PISDHCISD Acute Illness PISD Acute Illness

Week of the Year

Ave

rag

e #

Ab

sen

ces

Per

Day

August MarchStudy Period


MEDICAL ABSENCESAction-Oriented Findings

Average Medical Absences Per Student Varies by Medical Issue

© 2013 E3 Alliance

Absence Type

Number of Students

Number of Absences

Average Absences/ Student

Notes

Acute Illness 3603 8124 2.3

Chronic Illness (not Asthma)

266 707 2.76 students account for 29% of absences

Asthma 83 127 1.5 Majority in PISD

Mental Health (non-crisis)

80 254 3.2

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of Absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13

Proportion of Absences Treated Varies by Absence Type

Health-related Overall

Acute Illness Chronic Illness

Asthma0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

59% 51%72%

44%

41% 49%28%

56%

Proportion Health Absences Treated vs. Not Treated

Treated Not Treated

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f A

bse

nce

s

(5759)

(3954)

(3844)

(3672)

(467)

(180)

(51)

(64)


If Not Treated, Why Not?For health absences that were not treated:• For 96%, parents said treatment not needed• For 2%, parents said reason was no insurance

or cost• For 2%, parents said it was for other reason

– Problem being seen– Transportation problem– Hours/Scheduling problem


NON-MEDICAL ABSENCESAction-Oriented Findings

Family Related Absences Vary by Gender

Family Emergency Family Responsibility Family Logistics0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

53%58%

34%

47%42%

66%

Family Related Absences by Gender

FemaleMale

Absence Type

Per

cen

t o

f A

bse

nce

Typ

e

(335)

(293)

(96)

(47)

(90)

(69)

High Proportion of Disadvantaged Students


Low Income At-Risk0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50%42%

Percent of Study Sample by Disadvantage Type

Per

cen

t o

f S

tud

y S

amp

le

Family Related Absences More Disadvantaged Students

Low Income At Risk0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

55%

65%67%

80%

65%69%

Disadvantage by Family Related Absences

Family Emergency Family responsibility Family Logistics

Per

cen

t o

f A

bse

nce

s


% of Students

Family Related Absences More Disadvantaged Students

Low Income At Risk0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

55%

65%67%

80%

65%69%

Disadvantage by Family Related Absences

Family Emergency Family responsibility Family Logistics

Per

cen

t o

f A

bse

nce

s

% of Students


More Skipping in 9th and 12th Grade

9 10 11 120

50

100

150

200

250

188

130111

207

Skipping Absences by Grade in High School

Grade

Nu

mb

er o

f A

bse

nce

s


Most of Skipping by At-Risk Students

Special Ed-ucation

English Language Learner

Males Low Income At Risk0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

23% 24%

61% 62%

86%

Skipping Absences by Demographic Subgroup

Per

cen

t o

f S

kip

pin

g A

bse

nce

s


% of Students

DEMOGRAPHIC SUB-GROUPS AND TYPICAL ABSENCE TYPES

Action-Oriented Findings

Low Income Students Have More than Their Share of Non-Medical Absences

Court/Legal

Skipping

Transportation Issue


Student's Child Sick

Dental Treatment

Mental Health

Asthma

Chronic Illness

All Absences

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

% of Absences by Reason for Low Income Students

Percent of Absences from Low Income StudentsSource: E3 Alliance analysis of Absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13 © 2013 E3 Alliance

% of Low Income Students

At-Risk Students Have More than Their Share of Absences for Many Reasons

Court/Legal

Skipping




Dental Treatment

Mental Health

Asthma

Chronic Illness

All Absences

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

% of Absences by Reason for At-Risk Students

Percent of Absences from At-Risk StudentsSource: E3 Alliance analysis of Absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13 © 2013 E3 Alliance

% of At-Risk Students

Chronic Absenteeism Worst in High School

Elementary School

Middle School High School Overall0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

5%

6%

11%

8%

Chronic Absenteeism (Absent 10%+ Days), 2012-13

Per

cen

tag

e o

f S

tud

ents


Chronically Absent Students Have Far More than Their Share of Absences

Court/Legal

Skipping




Dental Treatment

Mental Health

Asthma

Chronic Illness

All Absences

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

% of Absences by Reason for Chronically Absent

Percent of Absences from Chronically Absent StudentsSource: E3 Alliance analysis of Absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13 © 2013 E3 Alliance

% of Chronically Absent Students

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Overall Conclusions• Nearly half of absences due to acute illness• Geographical location of hotspots vary widely by absence

reason• Amount of health related absences over time vary with

acute illness outbreaks• Amount of non-health related absences relatively

consistent over time• % of health-related absences where student receiving

treatment depends on absence reason

Overall Conclusions• % of absences mostly in proportion to % of population for

– School district membership (but asthma in Pflugerville)– Special education status– English Language Learner status (except skipping)

• % of absences mostly disproportionate to % of population for – Chronic absenteeism– Gender– Income status– At-risk status– School level– Ethnicity (only for some absence reasons)

Conclusions Populations to concentrate community services

– Low income and students at-risk of dropping out– 9th to 10th graders and grades leading up to those– Students with chronic absenteeism in any grade

Absence reasons to concentrate community services– Chronic Illness– Skipping– What else?

DISCUSSION AND ACTION PLANNING

In your issue area, what specific actions can we take as a community to decrease absenteeism, impacting both student achievement and family health? As a table, come up with one “Big Idea” to shareBe ready to report back to the group!!

Student Health

Student Attendance


Individual, Family

Outcomes

The conclusions of this research do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official position of the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the State of Texas.

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absence reasons study amy wiseman, susan dawson, mohan rao 06/11/13 health & community student...

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