The purpose of this study is to assess how the use of therapy dogs affect elementary students' anxiety levels and attendance. This study adds to the existing research base on the impacts of therapy dogs and the association between anxiety and attendance. Specifically, children who have frequent absences often have challenges in multiple areas, as…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges associated with the transition from face-to-face to emergency remote education increased concerns about student dropout. Aligned with this concern, this study investigates the impact of the pandemic on the dropout patterns of 3371 undergraduate students from a Brazilian institution. Using data mining…

Extended school non-attendance, commonly named truancy or school refusal, has over the last decade attracted attention among educational researchers. This article points to a need for theoretical perspectives that can account for the complexity and ambiguity of the phenomenon. The article presents a critical analysis of the research field of…

In the year following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic-related school closures in March 2020, educators began to sound the alarm about increasing chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing at least 10 percent of school days (i.e., 18 days in a typical 180-day school year) for any reason, whether excused or…

Student absenteeism is a persistent concern in K-12 education. Not only are the negative academic and social consequences of excessive absenteeism well documented, but states, districts, and schools are increasingly being held accountable for student attendance. As research indicates that disruptions in students' learning contexts may exacerbate…

This quantitative study examined the impact school mentors have on the attendance of 15 male fourth and fifth grade students. Student attendance data were collected to compare the students' absences in the 2021-2022 school year versus the 2022-2023 school year. This data was analyzed to determine whether there was a difference in the attendance…

For more than twenty-five years, public charter schools have served Ohio families and communities by providing quality educational options beyond the local school district. But it's no secret that we've also had a long-standing debate over whether increasing school choice impacts students who remain in traditional districts. In important--and…

Literacy is a prevailing challenge of student achievement within urban schools. Capitol City Intermediate School's Extended Day Program, also known as the Real World Learning Program, is an academic after-school program that focuses on literacy. The incoming 4th grade students who have underperformed on the NJSLA 3 assessment are the target…

Background: While researchers have demonstrated the positive effects of School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) on student health outcomes, less is known about the long-term impact of SBHC use on academic outcomes, such as attendance. Objective: Our objective was to examine the direct and indirect effects of SBHC use on attendance among high school…

School refusal and anxiety are considerable problems among children and adolescents. While numerous studies were published, no review on the issue has been conducted to holistically reveal the current research results. This study uses a systematic scoping review design and aims to synthesize the results of the current studies on seeking an answer…

Families are critical partners in addressing chronic absenteeism. Drawing from research, authors Thomas J. Capretta, Jingyang (Max) Zhang, and Barbara J. Boone present four throughlines and six strategies for schools to improve attendance by building trust and partnering with families. In view of chronic absenteeism's association with negative…

Substance use disorder (SUD) among adolescents has a significant impact on families and communities. It can lead to criminality, poor school performance, chronic use over a lifetime, high risk behaviors, and even premature death. Recovery from SUD is more than physical abstinence from alcohol and other drugs. Mental health and emotional well-being…

This quantitative quality improvement study examined the impact of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) on African American students in a Southeastern school district. A review of the current literature highlighted the chronic absenteeism, low levels of achievement, and high discipline referrals of African American…

Objective: The original 24-item School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised (SRAS-R) assesses four functions/conditions regarding school refusal behavior (SRB), bridging assessments, and treatments of SRB. No validated Chinese versions are available. Methods: To validate the Chinese version of the SRAS-R, an anonymous cross-sectional survey was…

Kindergarten through 12th grade school administrators and educators are tasked with the challenge of ensuring every student is consistently attending school. Balfanz and Byrnes (2012) and Henderson et al. (2014) stated that either students cannot attend school because of multiple factors, students will not attend, or students do not attend because…