Absenteeism in the Head Start Program

Transcription

1 Absenteeism in the Head Start Program presented by David Ziser Research Analyst

2 Child Start Overview Mission Provide early childhood development services that prepare children for lifelong success Programs Child Care Resource & Referral Head Start

3 Overview of Head Start Centers in Analysis Children 3-5 in low-income families Head Start centers in Wichita with a school year that has the same timeframe as USD 259 Classes Monday through Thursday 128 days in the school year 3.5 hour part-day classes

4 Overview of Attendance Data Used Attendance records from 3 years school year school year school year Children who were enrolled at least 90% of the school year At least 115 school days 1,413 attendance records in total

5 Two-Part Analysis Why are children absent? Differences between good attendance and chronic absenteeism What factors contribute to chronic absenteeism? Asthma Unmet Dental Needs Living in the Wichita Westside Promise Neighborhoods (WWPN) Area Parent Involvement

6 Part 1 Why are children absent?

7 Top Reasons for Absenteeism Temporary Family Situation Health Ailment Family Transportation

8 Groups by Levels of Absenteeism Children were grouped based on their level of absenteeism Less than 10% 10-20% 20-30% More than 30% Chronic absenteeism The number of each type of absence was determined for each group

9 Average Number of Absences per Child Average Number of Absences in a School Year Temporary Family Situation Health Ailment Family Transportation Less than 10% 10-20% 20-30% More than 30% Level of Absenteeism

10 Percentage of Total Absences Percentage of Total Absences 50% 47% 45% 44% 41% 43% 40% 35% 39% 34% 30% 35% 26% 25% Temporary Family Situation 20% 15% 12% 17% Health Ailment Family Transportation 10% 5% 6% 7% 0% Less than 10% 10-20% 20-30% More than 30% Level of Absenteeism

11 Part 2 What factors contribute to absenteeism?

12 Contributing Factors to Absenteeism Factors Asthma Unmet dental needs Living in the Wichita Westside Promise Neighborhoods (WWPN) Area Parent involvement in school activities Factors were explored: As a comparison Prevalence of factor in each of the four groups of absenteeism

13 Children with Asthma Determined by children who have an Asthma Plan in our program

14 Children with Asthma Temporary Family Situation Average Number of Absences Health Ailment Family Transportation With Asthma Without Asthma

15 Prevalence of Children with Asthma Prevalence of Children with Asthma 12.0% 11.9% 11.5% 11.4% 11.5% 11.0% 10.5% 10.1% 10.0% 9.5% 9.0% Less than 10% 10-20% 20-30% More than 30% Level of Absenteeism

16 Children with Unmet Dental Needs Determined by children who had a need for dental treatment identified through a dental exam, but treatment was not received

17 Children with Unmet Dental Needs 12.0 Average Number of Absences With Unmet Dental Needs Without Unmet Dental Needs 0.0 Temporary Family Situation Health Ailment Family Transportation

18 Prevalence of Children with Unmet Dental Needs Prevalence of Children with Unmet Dental Needs 7.0% 6.0% 5.5% 5.9% 5.0% 4.2% 4.0% 3.5% 3.0% 2.0% 1.0% 0.0% Less than 10% 10-20% 20-30% More than 30% Level of Absenteeism

19 Children in WWPN Area Determined by children living in the following zip codes:

20 Children in WWPN Area Average Number of Absences In WWPN Area Not in WWPN Area Temporary Family Situation Health Ailment Family Transportation

21 Prevalence of Children in WWPN Area Prevalence of Children in WWPN Area 35% 30% 30% 33% 29% 25% 24% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Less than 10% 10-20% 20-30% More than 30% Level of Absenteeism

22 Parent Involvement Determined by primary parent/guardian volunteering 50 hours or more in a year toward program activities

23 Parent Involvement Average Number of Absences Less than 50 Hours More than 50 Hours 0.0 Temporary Family Situation Health Ailment Family Transportation

24 Prevalence of Children with an Active Parent Parent Involvement 25% 24% 23% 20% 16% 15% 10% 6% 5% 0% Less than 10% 10-20% 20-30% More than 30% Level of Absenteeism

25 Summary of Findings Top three reasons children were absent: Temporary Family Situation Health Ailment Family Transportation As levels of absenteeism increased: Temporary Family Situation and Family Transportation absences had an increasing rate of growth Health Ailment absences had a decreasing rate of growth Children with asthma were absent more due to health ailments Children with unmet dental needs were absent more due to temporary family situations and family transportation, not health ailments Living in the WWPN area did not seem to be a significant factor in absences Parent involvement was a significant factor in the number of absences due to temporary family situations and family transportation

26 Questions?