Trends in Student Absenteeism in NCRERN's New York & Ohio Rural Research Network

This brief examines historical trends in student absenteeism across rural districts in New York and Ohio participating in NCRERN prior to their involvement in the research network. Using administrative data from 2014–15 through 2018–19, the analysis shows that average absence rates hovered around 6% in both states, with slight increases over time in New York and more stable patterns in Ohio. Chronic absenteeism rates were higher in upper grades—particularly among high school seniors—and followed a U-shaped pattern, with elevated rates among both the youngest and oldest students. Although chronically absent students accounted for a disproportionate share of missed instructional days, the majority of total absences were accumulated by students who were not chronically absent. The brief also demonstrates a strong, negative relationship between absences and academic achievement, especially in math, where each additional day absent is associated with incremental learning loss. These findings provide rural districts with data-informed insights to guide attendance improvement efforts through NCRERN’s continuous improvement process.