Date of Conferral

5-29-2024

Date of Award

May 2024

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Kathleen Norris

Abstract

Chronic absenteeism negatively affects millions of U.S. students each year, and there has been little improvement in the past 2 decades despite the efforts of educational organizations nationwide. The purpose of this qualitative project study was to examine the perceptions of different stakeholders regarding how the factors that contribute to chronic absenteeism of students of color have affected attendance interventions in an alternative urban high school setting in Northeastern Ohio. The conceptual framework was Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, which explains that the development of individuals is influenced by the different environments in which they exist throughout their lives. Interviews were conducted with three high school administrators, three teachers, three students of color, and three parents of students of color from the school community to explore perceptions of chronic absenteeism from diverse stakeholders. Coding and analysis of data yielded five themes: consistent transportation, student employment, obligations to care for family members, student motivation, and student and family illness. Consistent transportation and student employment were perceived as the most pervasive causes of absenteeism, but there were significant differences between stakeholders for other perceived causes of absenteeism, showing the disconnect between the school’s attendance improvement program and the needs of families in the school community. Developing a better understanding of this disconnect may allow school leaders to better support student attendance and improve educational opportunities for students of color, creating positive social change by improving the chances that chronically absent students will earn a high school diploma.

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