In a review of state Department of Education data, non-profit Advocates for Children of New Jersey found that about 125,000 K-12 students missed 18 or more school days.
About 10 percent of New Jersey students missed more than 10 percent of the 2013-14 school year, putting them at a greater risk of falling behind their peers academically, according to a new report from a child advocacy organization.
In a review of state Department of Education data, non-profit Advocates for Children of New Jersey found that about 125,000 K-12 students missed 18 or more school days.
Across the state, 177 school districts had more than 10 percent of their students chronically absent, according to the report. Minority students and those from low-income families were most likely to miss more than 18 days, along with students in kindergarten or high school, ACNJ found.
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"It's pretty simple. You have to be in school to learn," said Cecilia Zalkind, executive director of ACNJ. "We think this is a significant problem in New Jersey with potentially lifelong consequences for children."
National research shows that chronic absenteeism in elementary school can lead to long-term reading problems, lower test scores and weaker social emotional skills, the ACNJ report says.
In New Jersey, fourth grade students who missed three or more days of school in the month before national reading and math exams were administered scored significantly lower than students who did not miss any days, the ACNJ found.
Overall, Ocean County had the most districts (19) with more than 10 percent of students chronically absent in 2013-14, according the report. Essex County had 10 districts, though data for Newark Public Schools was unavailable.
Only two districts in Morris County had more than 10 percent of students miss significant time, the lowest number in the state.
The reasons students miss school vary and are sometimes difficult to pinpoint, educators said.
At Woodbine School District in rural Cape May County, administrators found a correlation between bad weather and student absences because no transportation is provided to and from school, said Lynda Anderson-Towns, retired superintendent.
In Paterson, reasons some students missed school included dirty uniforms or having to go the doctor with a parent who doesn't speak English, said Sandra Diodonet, former principal of School 5.
Cynthia Rice, a senior policy analyst for ACNJ, said students also miss extended time in some instances because their parents schedule vacations during the school year.
Reminding parents of the importance of attendance is key, Rice said, and schools need to develop a culture that celebrates attendance.
"From that first day of school, staff should be analyzing absentee data so that students that may be at risk can be identified as early as possible and steps can be taken to address to problem," Rice said.
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