About Chronic Absenteeism and School Discipline
What are the nature and extent of chronic absenteeism and school discipline in California?
During the 2018-19 school year, nearly 12 percent of all California public school students—more than 650,000—were chronically absent, meaning that they missed more than ten percent of the total school instruction days. Just under 220,000 students accounted for more than 350,000 suspensions. African American and Native American students were disproportionately likely to be chronically absent or suspended. (Source: California Department of Education)
For more statistics and research on the nature and prevalence of truancy and school discipline, including county-level and district-level data, see:
- California Department of Education DataQuest system – includes data on suspensions, expulsions, and truancy
- kidsdata.org: Truancy, Suspensions & Expulsions (California)
- UCLA Civil Rights Project – school discipline research
What are the problems associated with truancy and school discipline?
Truancy and school discipline are associated with a host of negative consequences, including a decline in academic achievement, a greater likelihood of dropping out of school, poor health and well-being outcomes, and an increased risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system.
For more information on the impact of truancy and school discipline on children, families, and communities, see:
- Breaking Schools' Rules: A Statewide Study of How School Discipline Relates to Students' Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement
- Fix School Discipline - research on the problems with out of school suspensions and more effective solutions for school discipline
Resources
Following are links to research reports, program evaluations, policy papers, and data sources that may be useful to courts and justice partners interested in addressing truancy and school discipline issues in their communities.
- Bench Card for the Trauma-Informed Judge
- The Court's Role in Dismantling the School-to-Prison Pipeline
- National Center for School Engagement – reports on truancy interventions
- POSITIVE POWER: Exercising Judicial Leadership to Prevent Court Involvement and Incarceration of Non-Delinquent Youth
- Truancy and School Discipline: An Overview of the Literature and Statistics
- National Council of Family and Juvenile Court Judges School Justice Partnership National Resource Center - National resources on ways courts can partner with other stakeholders to keep kids in school and out of court
- The Invisible Achievement Gap: Education Outcomes of Students in Foster Care in California's Public Schools
- The Invisible Achievement Gap: Part Two
- Addressing the Unmet Educational Needs of Children and Youth in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems
- Educational Outcomes for Court-Dependent Youth in San Mateo County
- Educational Outcomes 2014-15 Foster Youth
- Fix School Discipline
- Breaking Schools' Rules: A Statewide Study of How School Discipline Relates to Students' Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement
- National Center on Safe and Supportive Learning Environments
- Truancy and School Discipline: An Overview of the Literature and Statistics
- UCLA Civil Rights Project – school discipline research
"In Teen Courts, A Second Chance"
California’s 75 teen courts let youth face a jury of their peers – and steer cases away from the juvenile justice system.