In the United States, many K-12 schools rely on Average Daily Attendance (ADA) as a key metric for funding. ADA measures the total number of days attended by students divided by the total days of instruction. When students miss school for any reason the district’s ADA is lowered, making it a less favorable reflection of enrollment. In many states, ADA is used to determine school funding levels, creating a direct link between attendance and a school’s financial health.
Post-pandemic, chronic absenteeism – defined as when a student misses 10% or more of school days in a year – has surged nationwide. The percentage of students categorized as chronically absent increased from 15% pre-pandemic to 26% in the most recent year. This alarming trend cuts across socioeconomic and geographic lines, highlighting a pervasive issue in public education.
For many districts, funding is only received for days when students are physically present. Absenteeism – whether due to illness, family vacation, or student disengagement – incurs substantial costs. For example, the San Marcos Unified School District in California loses $50 per day for each absent student.
“The District loses $50 per day when a student is not in school.” - Gary W. Woods, Superintendent
Consider the following example: During the 2007-08 flu season, the San Marcos Unified School District lost $105,000 in funding due to absenteeism, equivalent to the absence of 17 full-time students for the entire school year.
For larger districts, the financial losses can escalate even further. The Diego Rivera Learning Complex, part of the Los Angeles School District in California, loses $90 per day per absent student, which adds up to tens of thousands of dollars daily when absenteeism rates spike.
“This 2024 school year, student attendance has not improved. Not many kids come to school regularly. Every day a student is absent means that we lose money.” - Audrey Greene, Targeted Special Populations coordinator
Boosting attendance rates can have a major financial impact on schools, as even small improvements help reduce funding losses. Below are examples showing potential savings for a school with 1,000 students and a $50-90 per day funding loss per absent student:
Chart: Yearly funding increases per 1,000 students for schools with a $50-90 per day funding loss per absent student.
An increase of 3,600 attendance days is equivalent to the attendance of 20 full-time students for an entire school year.
An increase of 9,000 attendance days is equivalent to the attendance of 50 full-time students for an entire school year.
An increase of 18,000 attendance days is equivalent to the attendance of 100 full-time students for an entire school year.
Chart: Days of attendance saved per 1,000 students for schools per year.
Chart: Increases in attendance per 1,000 students illustrated as number of full-time students.
Student engagement is a well-researched predictor of attendance. When students feel connected, supported, and engaged in their learning environments, they are more likely to attend school regularly. Research consistently shows that engaged students:
Engagement supports stronger interpersonal relationships and academic success, creating a feedback loop that helps both attendance and learning outcomes. Conversely, disengagement can lead to absenteeism, academic struggles, and other related issues.
Data from the Leaps Student Voice Survey reveals that students reporting positive, engaging school experiences are 25% less likely to be chronically absent than those with negative experiences. This demonstrates the importance of building learning environments that prioritize active engagement and connection.
A compelling example comes from a middle school in Salem Public Schools, which piloted a program to improve attendance through engaging, positive student experiences. Chronic absenteeism dropped from 28% to 12% in its first year and continued to decline below 10% the following year. The financial implications were equally significant, using our same model of 1,000 students:
The reduction in absenteeism (28,800 days) is equivalent to the attendance of approximately 160 full-time students for an entire school year.
Active learning is a proven method to increase engagement and attendance, especially in online settings. Platforms like Engageli empower educators to create dynamic, interactive learning environments that encourage participation and connection. By incorporating elements such as small-group collaborative exercises, real-time data and feedback, and AI-powered moments of engagement, active learning platforms can transform disengaged students into active participants.
For online learning, which often struggles with engagement, active methodologies have a particularly significant impact. Students who feel involved in their learning process and connected to their peers and instructors are more likely to attend classes and stay committed.
Improving student engagement is a proven strategy to reduce absenteeism, enhance academic outcomes, and preserve critical funding for schools. When schools implement active instructional methods, the results are clear: better engagement leads to better attendance, which in turn drives financial stability for schools.
Tools like those offered by Engageli empower educators to create engaging learning environments that address absenteeism head-on, yielding measurable academic and financial benefits. Schools that prioritize engagement can achieve sustainable improvements, ensuring both students and districts thrive.
California Department of Education
National Association of Elementary School Principals