1. Chronic Absence in Hawaii
Chronic Absence in Hawaii: How many students are chronically absent in Hawaii’s schools? How does Hawaii compare to other states?

2. Chronic Absence a Huge National Problem
Nationwide, over 6 million students missed 15 or more days of school in That’s 13 % of the student population or 1 in 8 students.
Source: U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection

3. Among secondary schools, three million students (18 percent) were chronically absent. Among elementary schools, chronic absence affected a greater number, 3.5 million students.
In this heat map, the darker the color, the higher the level of chronic absence. Chronic absence affects 89% of all districts in the U.S. However, it is highly concentrated in particular districts and schools. Half of all chronically absent students live in communities served by 4% of the districts in the country. [Source:

4. How does Hawaii compare to the national average
How does Hawaii compare to the national average? According to OCR data, 20% or 1 in 5 of Hawaii’s students missed 15 days or more of the school year. Hawaii’s chronic absence rate is higher than the national average of 13%.

5. Reflecting the impact that chronic absenteeism has on student performance, Hawaii has extended its use of chronic absenteeism as an indicator in its Strive HI Index from elementary schools to middle/intermediate schools and high schools in SY
Impact of ESSA:
Additional measures 

6. http://www. hawaiipublicschools
These additional measures were originally going to be added as “bonus points” for the school. However, the impending transition to a revised accountability system in SY that complies with the new federal law (ESSA) has led to the decision that the SY will be a transition year in which points are not awarded and schools will maintain their classification from the previous school year. Instead, data on these additional measures will further serve to inform schools rather than be used to calculate an accountability score. Please refer to the March 3, 2016 “Impact of Every Student Succeeds Act (“ESSA”) Transition on Revisions to Strive HI Performance System for School Year” memo for further information.

7. Hawaii DOE: Definition of Chronic Absence
In addition to an end-of-year accountability measure, Hawaii DOE is using chronic absence as part of its early warning system. School leaders can see with the traffic-lighted reports whether students are on-track—missing less that 5% of the year to date, approaching off-track—missing 5%-8.5% of days or off-track, missing more than 8.5% of days.

8. Chronic Absence in Hawaii: Trends
Since Hawaii Public Schools began tracking its chronic absence rates, it has seen a small decline from 21.8% in 2010.

9. Chronic absenteeism is correlated with lower test scores and growth for students…
This training is part of the effort to reduce chronic absence rates as chronic absence has been correlated with lower test scores in reading and math for Hawaii’s students.

10. There is a significant negative relationship between chronic absenteeism and Hawaii’s students’ course marks
Effect of Chronic Absenteeism on Annual GPA
Being chronically absent is associated with a half-point decline in one's GPA.
Similarly, chronic absenteeism is associated with lower GPA.

11. Past chronic absenteeism, even from several years ago is one of the best predictors of chronic absenteeism today.
Increased Likelihood of Being Chronically Absent Based on Chronic Absenteeism Status in Previous Years
Past chronic absenteeism, even from several years ago is one of the best predictors of chronic absenteeism today.
*compares students with similar disadvantages and similar test scores