Date of Award
8-2020
Document Type
Research Project
Degree Name
Master of Education (MEd)
Department
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Brian Cavanaugh
Abstract
This quantitative study was designed to determine if there is a correlation between chronic absenteeism and student achievement and if increased teacher communication with positive messages around attendance would affect the rate of chronic absenteeism in rural elementary schools. Four schools were analyzed looking at attendance and achievement data while implementing a new attendance protocol that increased teacher communication and the spread of positive messaging in regards to attendance. Findings indicate there is evidence that those students who were chronically absent struggled academically to meet local and state benchmarks. Preliminary findings also indicate that the implementation of the new attendance protocol improved attendance. In conclusion, making small changes in attendance protocols that add nothing to existing budgets appears to be an effective way to combat the national attendance crisis.
Recommended Citation
Dupuy, Joanne, "Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Rural Maine Elementary Schools" (2020). M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership Research Projects. 99.
https://scholarworks.umf.maine.edu/ed_leadership_projects/99
