Fri. Nov 8th, 2024

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – To be chronically absent, a student must miss 18 days of school, or 10% of the year. The Syracuse City School District has dealt with a high amount of chronically absent students since the coronavirus. Director of Media at the Syracuse City School District Amanda Hull says that on average about 50% of students in the Syracuse City School District are considered chronically absent.

“So when you’re thinking about sending your child to school, we just want parents to really be aware of what (chronic absenteeism) means,” said Hull. “So if, maybe, you’re holding your student home a Thursday and a Friday each month, they really are considered chronically absent.”

This year, the Syracuse City School District has started a brand new campaign. It’s called “Show Up to Glow Up, Rise and Thrive.” Hull says she wants parents to be informed about what it means to be chronically absent. Most chronically absent kids are in the younger grades, such as kindergarten, which means the responsibility lies with the parents.

The School District is working with the mayor’s office, the police department and the Onondaga County Executive Office to solve this problem. The Deputy County Executive for Human Services, Ann Rooney, says she was given the opportunity to utilize state and federal money to help struggling families.

“Through contracted agencies,” Rooney said, “(The School District) will have what we’re calling ‘attendance officers,’ that are assigned to School District to specifically help with this effort.”

The Executive office is a big help in curtailing absenteeism because they have access to last known addresses for students. But for change to happen, parents have to step up.

Video Transcript: Chronic Absenteeism Plagues Syracuse City School District

Alex Remoll: To be chronically absent, a student must miss 18 days of school, or 10 percent of the year. The Syracuse City School District has dealt with a high amount of chronically absent students since the coronavirus. Director of media at Syracuse City School district Amanda Hull says that on average about 50% of students in the Syracuse City School district are considered chronically absent.

Amanda Hull: So when you’re thinking about sending your child to school, we just want parents to really be aware of what that means. So if, maybe, you’re holding your student home a Thursday and a Friday each month, they really are considered chronically absent.

Remoll: This year, the Syracuse city school district has started a brand new campaign. It’s called “Show Up to Glow Up, Rise and Thrive.” Hull says she wants parents to be informed about what it means to be chronically absent. Most chronically absent kids are in kindergarten, which starts with the parents. The school district is working with the mayor’s office, the police department, and the Onondaga County Executive Office to solve this problem. The Deputy County Executive for Human Services, Ann Rooney, says she was given the opportunity to utilize state and federal money to help struggling families.

Ann Rooney: Through contracted agencies, we will have what we’re calling “attendance officers,” that are assigned to school district to specifically help with this effort.

Remoll: The Executive office is a big help in curtailing absenteeism because they have access to last known addresses for students. But for change to happen, parents have to step up.