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| Maryland Result: |
CHILDREN SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL |
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| Indicator: |
Absence From School |
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| Definition: |
Percent of students
in all grades missing more than 20 days of the school year.
School attendance data are calculated as the percentage of students
present in school for at least half the average school day during the
school year. This measure is
consistent with the MSDE standard that students attend 94 percent of
school days. Data are currently published on the percentage of students
absent fewer than or more than 20 days for elementary (grades 1-6) and
secondary (grades 7-12) levels. |
| Significance: |
Absenteeism and
truancy indicate a loss of opportunities to learn and have negative
long-term consequences. High
levels of absences from school are associated with a higher risk of school
failure, dropping out of school, delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and
other high risk behaviors. |
| Data Sources: |
Attendance data are collected by
the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) through the Maryland
School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP). Attendance rates are
reported by state-level and by jurisdiction for elementary (grades 1-6)
and secondary (grades 7-12) students.
Data are available for the State, school system, and school levels. |
| Considerations: |
While there is interest in
collecting data on absences for more than 10 days, current system capacity
and structure only can report on 20 days. It is important to note that
these data do not indicate level or type of school response to absences or
differentiate between students with "excused" versus
unexcused" absences. Also,
the measure does not include students enrolled for less than 91 days
during the school year. |
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