Persistent Absenteeism: investigating complex barriers to school attendance
Research 12 Aug 2022 3 minute readACER has recently completed work for the SA Department for Education on data analysis to understand the complex barriers which prevent some children and young people from attending school for long periods of time.
In South Australia and nationally (AITSL, 2019), most students regularly attend school, only missing the odd day in a term. Around 20% of students are considered habitually absent by missing 5-9 days in a term. However, some students become chronic and persistent non-attenders. These constitute around 15% of students who miss 10 to 39 days out of a 50-day term and 1% of students who miss out on more than 40 days of learning per term.
In November 2021, ACER was approached by the South Australian Department for Education to undertake data analysis and research to support its Persistent Absenteeism Project. The Department is using the outcomes of this research as part of a broader prioritisation around attendance at school as being critical to supporting higher standards of learning, achievement, health, wellbeing and safety for South Australian children.