New York City public schools are confronting a significant challenge as students return to classrooms, with chronic absenteeism affecting one in three children and posing a major obstacle to academic progress. This issue, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen absenteeism rates climb from 26.5% in the 2018-19 academic year to 34.8% five years later. The problem begins early, with nearly 38% of kindergartners identified as chronically absent in the 2024-25 school year.
Research consistently links absenteeism, particularly in early grades, to negative long-term outcomes, including lower test scores and increased likelihood of involvement with the justice system. Unexcused absences, which constitute the largest portion of overall absenteeism, have the most pronounced impact on academic performance. High absenteeism rates also disrupt classroom instruction, making it more difficult for students who attend regularly to learn effectively.
The city's Department of Education (DOE) faces scrutiny for spending over $42,000 per student while students spend fewer hours in classrooms than the national average. This educational deficit is seen as a contributing factor to declining enrollment; K-12 enrollment in New York City public schools has dropped by over 100,000 students since 2020. The trend is evident even before kindergarten, with a significant number of children applying for pre-K seats but not continuing to kindergarten. Projections indicate a further loss of 150,000 students over the next decade.
In contrast, charter schools are experiencing growth, with five new schools opening this year and enrolling an estimated 152,000 students. Charter school leaders reportedly maintain a strong focus on attendance, emphasizing its importance to parents, rigorously tracking student presence, and promptly contacting families when students miss class. They employ strategies such as rewarding perfect attendance and implementing penalties for lateness. Charter administrators also have the flexibility to address underlying issues with families, a capability not always available to traditional public schools due to union contracts.
Chancellor Kamar Samuels and district superintendents have identified reducing chronic absenteeism as a top priority, acknowledging that improved achievement is impossible without consistent student presence. This issue is not new, with former Mayor Mike Bloomberg launching a multi-year initiative in 2010 aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism, which showed some success in participating schools. However, the current post-pandemic spike has not been met with the same level of urgency, despite per-pupil spending far exceeding earlier levels.
As a first step, the DOE is mandating that each school designate a staff member to serve as an absenteeism "avoidance liaison." These liaisons are expected to provide support to families and implement consequences for excessive unexcused absences. Chancellor Samuels plans to introduce an early-warning system to identify high-risk students and intervene quickly. Unconventional solutions, such as cash incentives for attendance being piloted in Detroit, are also being considered as cities nationwide grapple with similar challenges.
Access to timely and comprehensive attendance data remains a hurdle, with New York City and state officials criticized for delays in releasing information. This lack of current data hinders researchers and policymakers, contrasting with states like Connecticut and Rhode Island that provide monthly attendance updates. Ultimately, the success of New York City's public school system hinges on its ability to ensure students are consistently present and engaged in learning.