The 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires states to include one or more school quality or student success measures in their accountability system. Many states have selected chronic absenteeism as their school quality measure.
This Brief provides information about chronic absenteeism and possible implications for studentswith disabilities when a state selects it as a measure of school quality or student success. It highlights both the benefits and potential risks in light of requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504),
and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Brief also suggests actions that states might consider taking to address chronic absences among students with disabilities at the state and local levels as they work to include this new measure in accountability systems.
Please see below for links to the full Brief and related resources:
- Students with Disabilities and Chronic Absenteeism Issue Brief.
- Chronic Absenteeism and Students with Disabilities: Health Status of Students with Disabilities – Impact on Attendance
- Chronic Absenteeism: Recognizing Child Find Obligations.
- Chronic Absenteeism and Students with Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions.
