Ontario's Initiative to Combat Student Absenteeism: A Step Forward but More Support Needed
The secret to solving student absenteeism? Ontario's plan is a start — but some say there are better ways to get students back
The Star
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Ontario's government plans to address rising student absenteeism by incorporating attendance into final grades, but experts argue that deeper systemic issues must also be tackled. With only 40% of high school students meeting attendance standards last year, strategies from other regions may offer valuable insights for improvement.
- 01Ontario's absenteeism rates are significantly higher post-pandemic, with only 40% of high school students attending regularly.
- 02Experts emphasize the need for comprehensive support systems, including mental health resources and transportation assistance.
- 03Incentives for attendance, such as grading policies, must be paired with additional support to be effective.
- 04Successful strategies from other regions include attendance competitions and community engagement initiatives.
- 05Building meaningful relationships between educators and students can significantly improve attendance rates.
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Ontario's plan to reduce student absenteeism involves making attendance worth 10-15% of a student's final grade. However, experts highlight that this approach alone may not suffice. Currently, only 40% of high school students meet the attendance standard of being present at least 90% of the time, a decline of nearly 20 percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. Factors contributing to absenteeism include illness, family vacations, and a lack of perceived value in attending school. Experts like Tracy Vaillancourt from the University of Ottawa stress the importance of understanding the reasons behind absenteeism to create effective solutions. They advocate for addressing underlying issues such as mental health, family responsibilities, and transportation barriers. Ontario school boards have initiated various attendance campaigns, including re-engagement teams and direct outreach to families. However, experts warn that without adequate support, the new grading policy may disproportionately affect students already facing challenges. Strategies from other jurisdictions, like attendance competitions and building strong relationships between educators and students, could provide valuable lessons for Ontario's efforts to improve student attendance.
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The new attendance policy may lead to increased pressure on students to attend school, which could improve academic performance but also risks alienating those already facing challenges.
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