Chronic absenteeism—defined as missing 10% or more of instructional days in a school year—continues to be a critical issue affecting student achievement and well-being, both academically and socially. Research consistently shows that students with developmental disabilities are particularly vulnerable. For instance, an analysis of the National Survey of Children's Health (2016–2017) revealed that children with developmental disabilities were significantly more likely to be chronically absent than their peers without disabilities. The study also noted that absenteeism rates varied depending on the child’s age and the severity of the disability (Murthy et al.).
Here in Texas, particularly along the Texas-Mexico border, chronic absenteeism has been found to be closely tied to district-level attendance policies. A 2024 peer-reviewed study published in Research in Educational Policy and Management found that districts without structured attendance incentives and those that relied on law enforcement as Truancy Prevention Facilitators experienced higher rates of chronic absenteeism. On the other hand, when districts used support services staff in these roles, absenteeism rates among emergent bilingual and English learner students dropped significantly (Garza et al.).
In addition to district-level practices, state-level truancy policies have also been examined for their effectiveness. A national study published in the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk evaluated the correlation between the severity of truancy laws and absenteeism rates. After adjusting for demographic factors, the findings showed that stricter truancy policies did not significantly reduce chronic absenteeism. Interestingly, non-White high school students in states with less punitive policies had absenteeism rates similar to White students in states with harsher regulations (Zinskie and Rea).
Ultimately, addressing chronic absenteeism in Texas and across the U.S. demands a more nuanced and research-driven approach. Solutions must be tailored to meet students where they are, considering both individual needs and broader community challenges. For districts, especially those serving high-needs populations, this means moving beyond punitive models and investing in supportive, inclusive interventions that foster student engagement and regular attendance.
AggieAttend is an awesome new app made by Aggies, for Aggies, aimed at boosting class attendance and making student life easier at Texas A&M University. Let's face it, skipping class is tempting, but this app gives you actual reasons to show up. It checks your location during class time, and the more classes you attend, the more rewards you earn—think discounts at campus stores, exclusive invites to cool events, and other sweet perks!
But that's not all—Aggie Class Rewards also puts all your syllabus details and course info in one convenient place. Professors can easily update syllabi, and you'll instantly get notifications, so you're always up-to-date and never caught off guard. Basically, it's the perfect tool for keeping you organized, motivated, and successful all semester long!