DEPARTMENT of Dropout Prevention, Alternative Programs, & Truancy DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy DEPARTMENT of Dropout Prevention, Alternative Programs, & Truancy BOARD WORKSHOP UPDATE Absenteeism and Test Scores Presented by Millie Castaneda, Valerie Morrison, Steve Wigginton, & Skip Wilhoit Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy Definitions When do chronic absences (CA) become a problem? Missing 10% or more of total school days Missing 5 to 9% of total school days Missing less than 5% of total school days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
How does this differ from truancy? DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy How does this differ from truancy? Truancy typically defined as specified number or frequency of unexcused absences within a given time period Often an underestimate of the absenteeism magnitude Florida law defines "habitual truant" as a student who has 15 or more unexcused absences within 90 calendar days with or without the knowledge or consent of the student's parent or guardian, and who is subject to compulsory school attendance. Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy Why Define CA as Missing 10% of School for ANY reason (excused, unexcused, suspension etc.)? Truancy typically defined as specified number or frequency of unexcused absences within a given time period Often an underestimate of the absenteeism magnitude Florida law defines "habitual truant" as a student who has 15 or more unexcused absences within 90 calendar days with or without the knowledge or consent of the student's parent or guardian, and who is subject to compulsory school attendance. Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy Why Define CA as Missing 10% of School for ANY reason (excused, unexcused, suspension etc.)? Any absence = a day of missed instruction Based upon research Promotes early detection and intervention Allows for comparison across districts and states with different academic calendars Increases efficiency of data collection when required by all agencies Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
Why Are Students Missing Too Much School? DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy Why Are Students Missing Too Much School? Myths Absences are only a problem if they are unexcused Sporadic versus consecutive absences aren’t a problem Attendance only matters in the older grades Barriers Lack of access to health or dental care Poor Transportation Trauma No safe path to school Aversion Child struggling academically Lack of engaging instruction Poor school climate and ineffective school discipline Parents had negative school experience Chronic Disease Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy Balfanz and Byrnes (2012) divide the reasons for absences into three broad categories: • Can’t : Students who cannot attend school due to illness, family responsibilities, housing instability, the need to work, suspensions or involvement with the juvenile justice system. (Something prevents them from attending) • Won’t: Students who will not attend school to avoid bullying, unsafe conditions, harassment and embarrassment; avoidance of interactions or events at school (Affective or perceptions physical/psychological safety issues) • Don’t: Students who do not attend school because they, or their parents, do not see the value in being there, they have something else they would rather do, or nothing stops them from skipping school; would rather be somewhere else or do not make the effort to attend school (Student and/or family engagement) Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy Starting in PreK, More Years of Chronic Absence = Need for Intensive Reading Support By 2nd Grade Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial) Indicates that scores are significantly different from scores of students who are never chronically absent, at p<.05 level; **p<.01; ***p<.001
The Effects of Chronic Absence on Dropout Rates Are Cumulative DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy The Effects of Chronic Absence on Dropout Rates Are Cumulative Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
2013-14 Chronic Absenteeism Rates by District DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 2013-14 Chronic Absenteeism Rates by District 0 – 9.9% 10% – 14.9% 15% – 19.9% 20% – 30% Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial) Source: Education Information and Accountability Services, Florida Department of Education CA=21+ days absent
Florida Chronic Absenteeism and FCAT Scores DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy Florida Chronic Absenteeism and FCAT Scores Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial) Balfanz & Byrnes, 2012
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 1,247 students had zero absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 7,374 students had 1-5 absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 4,853 students had 6-9 absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 4,865 students had 10-17 absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 2,646 students had 18-35 absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 595 students had 36 or more absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 5,201 scored a Level 1 on the FSA ELA Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 5,216 scored a Level 2 on the FSA ELA Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 5,366 scored a Level 3 on the FSA ELA Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 4,041 scored a Level 4 on the FSA ELA Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 1,756 scored a Level 5 on the FSA ELA Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 19,476 students had zero Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 1,594 students had 1-5 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 289 students had 6-9 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 193 students had 10-17 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 58 students had 18 or more Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy FSA English Language Arts Data Analysis There is a definitive relationship between absences from school and scores on the FSA Reading Exam. Absences do not seem to have a profound impact until they reach the chronic level of 18 or more days. However, Level 1 scores begin to outpace all other scores at 10-17 days of absence. Better attendance seems to have a stronger influence on the number of students who are proficient on the FSA ELA Exam (Level 3, 4, and 5 scores), than those who are below proficiency levels (1 & 2). Students who scored a Level 1 were distributed relatively evenly from 1-35 absences. Out of School Suspension has a profound impact on test scores beginning at just 1-5 days. 98% of all district Level 4 and 5 scores came from students with zero days of OSS.
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 890 students had zero absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 5,619 students had 1-5 absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 3,782 students had 6-9 absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 2,654 students had 10-17 absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 1,546 students had 18-35 absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 328 students had 36 or more absences Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 3,853 scored a Level 1 on the FSA Math Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 3,584 scored a Level 2 on the FSA Math Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 4,307 scored a Level 3 on the FSA Math Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 3.083 scored a Level 4 on the FSA Math Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 1,484 scored a Level 5 on the FSA Math Exam Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 14,802 students had zero Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 1,134 students had 1-5 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 201 students had 6-9 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 133 students had 10-17 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy 16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the 2014-2015 school year 38 students had 18 or more Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days Briefing Notes Title (12 point Arial Bold) Briefing Notes (12 point Arial)
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy FSA Math Data Analysis There is also a definitive relationship between absences from school and scores on the FSA Math Exam. Like the ELA Exam, Level 1 scores become the predominant result at 10-17 days and a profound negative impact is seen at 18 or more days of absence. Also like the ELA Exam, Level 1 and 2 math scores were more evenly distributed between 1 and 35 days of absence. Better attendance had an increasingly positive impact on level 3, 4, & 5 scores. Out of School Suspension rates had an equally profound effect on math scores beginning with just 1-5 days of OSS. However, unlike the ELA Exam, only 77% of the Level 4 and 5 Math scores came from students with zero suspensions (compared to 98% of ELA scores).