This study examined the student, family, and school factors associated with chronic absenteeism. With support from School Smart KC and Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), the UERC collected attendance records and conducted surveys, focus groups, and interviews with parents, students, and staff to understand the primary reasons for absenteeism. In the analyses, seventeen factors that could potentially affect students’ school attendance were correlated with chronic absenteeism rates.

The 2020 final report provided descriptive and correlational evidence about the relative importance of reasons for school absence. Results of this study were used by the district to inform programming for reducing absenteeism.