1. 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
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2. 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
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3. 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.
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4. 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.
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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)
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8. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
Starting in PreK, More Years of Chronic Absence = Need for Intensive Reading Support By 2nd Grade
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Indicates that scores are significantly different from scores of students who are never chronically absent, at p<.05 level; **p<.01; ***p<.001

9. The Effects of Chronic Absence on Dropout Rates Are Cumulative
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
The Effects of Chronic Absence on Dropout Rates Are Cumulative
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10. 2013-14 Chronic Absenteeism Rates by District
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
Chronic Absenteeism Rates by District
 0 – 9.9%
 10% – 14.9%
 15% – 19.9%
 20% – 30%
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Source: Education Information and Accountability Services, Florida Department of Education
CA=21+ days absent

11. Florida Chronic Absenteeism and FCAT Scores
DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
Florida Chronic Absenteeism and FCAT Scores
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Balfanz & Byrnes, 2012

12. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
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13. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
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14. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
1,247 students had zero absences
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15. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
7,374 students had 1-5 absences
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16. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
4,853 students had 6-9 absences
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17. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
4,865 students had absences
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18. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
2,646 students had absences
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19. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
595 students had 36 or more absences
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20. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
5,201 scored a Level 1 on the FSA ELA Exam
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21. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
5,216 scored a Level 2 on the FSA ELA Exam
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22. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
5,366 scored a Level 3 on the FSA ELA Exam
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23. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
4,041 scored a Level 4 on the FSA ELA Exam
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24. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
1,756 scored a Level 5 on the FSA ELA Exam
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25. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
19,476 students had zero Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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26. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
1,594 students had 1-5 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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27. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
289 students had 6-9 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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28. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
193 students had Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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29. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
21,580 students took the FSA ELA Exam during the school year
58 students had 18 or more Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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30. 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 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.

31. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
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32. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
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33. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
890 students had zero absences
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34. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
5,619 students had 1-5 absences
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35. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
3,782 students had 6-9 absences
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36. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
2,654 students had absences
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37. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
1,546 students had absences
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38. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
328 students had 36 or more absences
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39. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
3,853 scored a Level 1 on the FSA Math Exam
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40. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
3,584 scored a Level 2 on the FSA Math Exam
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41. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
4,307 scored a Level 3 on the FSA Math Exam
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42. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
3.083 scored a Level 4 on the FSA Math Exam
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43. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
1,484 scored a Level 5 on the FSA Math Exam
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44. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
14,802 students had zero Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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45. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
1,134 students had 1-5 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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46. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
201 students had 6-9 Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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47. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
133 students had Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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48. DOP, Alternative Programs, & Truancy
16,311 students took the FSA Math Exam during the school year
38 students had 18 or more Out of School Suspension (OSS) Days
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49. 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 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).