New York City public schools are introducing "school avoidance liaisons" to address a significant rise in chronic absenteeism, with 33% of students missing at least 10% of classes during the 2024-25 school year. These liaisons will be existing school employees, such as teachers, counselors, or social workers, tasked with engaging families of students exhibiting school avoidance behaviors.
The initiative stems from a 2024 class-action lawsuit filed by families of chronically absent disabled students, who alleged that the city lacked adequate resources to support these students. The liaisons will connect families with school-provided mental health services and other resources in an effort to re-engage students with their education.
Principals are required to nominate staff for these roles as part of their consolidated plans by September 30. The position will not come with additional pay.
School avoidance is often linked to underlying issues such as disability or mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Notably, 43% of disabled students were chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year. Education advocates have criticized the city for allowing absenteeism to reach crisis levels, necessitating such measures.
"The uptick in chronic absenteeism over the last few years has reached crisis proportions. Schools need to get creative in addressing the problem," stated Craig Slutzkin, treasurer of Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education. Critics, however, have raised concerns that the new role places an additional unpaid burden on teachers, suggesting that other professionals should handle these responsibilities.
"Why can’t other city departments handle this? This is just another task that is going to divert teachers’ attention from teaching," commented a Department of Education insider.
Studies indicate that significant time missed in the classroom can lead to severe and potentially irreversible academic setbacks, including poor performance in math and reading, increased risk of drug use, criminal behavior, or dropping out.
David Bloomfield, a professor of educational leadership, law and policy at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center, described the liaisons as a "good first step" but emphasized that more comprehensive solutions are needed. "Outsourcing accountability is not an option," he added.
The absenteeism issue is one of several challenges facing New York City schools, which have seen a decline of over 150,000 students since 2015. Recent data also shows a significant drop in proficiency in English Language Arts among students in grades 3-8, with only 50.3% meeting state standards. Furthermore, nearly half of the city's over 900 schools reported that half of their student bodies failed state math and reading tests.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education stated that the School Avoidance Liaisons program will establish a "strong framework" to combat chronic absenteeism. "While achieving our shared goal of every student being chronically present will require sustained effort, NYC Public Schools is committed to removing barriers to attendance and ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally," the spokesperson said.