URGENT UPDATE: Rochester Public Schools reports alarming attendance figures for the 2024-25 school year, with only 64.9% of students consistently attending classes. This critical issue was presented to the Rochester School Board on October 21, 2024, as officials seek solutions to combat chronic absenteeism in the district.
The lack of attendance has drawn the attention of state authorities, leading Rochester to join a pilot program with 11 other districts across Minnesota. The initiative aims to tackle the persistent problem of students missing school, which has worsened since the pandemic.
Angi McAndrews, director of positive behavioral supports for Rochester Public Schools, highlighted the challenges in addressing absenteeism: “I feel like our buildings all have good practices in place; I think they all individualize as many interventions as they can manage. However, we have so many kids that are chronically absent that it’s hard to intervene for all of them.”
The district’s definition of “consistent attendance” requires students to attend classes at least 90% of the time. The current rate of 64.9% reflects a slight increase from 64.8% the previous year, but remains significantly lower than the state average of 75.5%.
Rochester’s struggle with attendance is evident, as only 53.5% of students were consistently attending classes during the 2021-22 school year. The situation demands immediate attention as the district faces scrutiny and pressure to improve.
The pilot program has introduced a new truancy coordinator to spearhead efforts aimed at improving attendance. A crucial step in this process involves standardizing coding systems to ensure accurate data across schools. “In Minnesota, there’s quite a bit of variation in terms of codes and how those are interpreted at the state level,” McAndrews explained. “We felt that it was important for us to go back and correct our data before our year-end report, so that the baseline from this last year would be comparable as we move forward.”
However, the definition of “absent” remains under debate. Students marked with an “M” designation indicate they missed a portion of class, yet this designation is counted as an absence. John Marshall High School Assistant Principal Angela Rodgers stated, “I think that ‘M’ really helps us figure out what the story is and really hone in on what’s going on.”
During a meeting with the district’s student school board, Superintendent Kent Pekel emphasized the need for clarity regarding attendance designations. “This issue of the ‘Ms’ is a really big issue. This is actually the kind of issue we need to figure out in order to really get a solid attendance policy,” he said.
As Rochester Public Schools grapples with these attendance challenges, community stakeholders and educators are urged to act swiftly. The implications of chronic absenteeism extend beyond classroom performance, affecting the overall well-being of students and the community at large.
Next Steps: The district plans to implement new strategies and interventions in the coming months, focusing on improving attendance rates and ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed. Stay tuned for further updates as Rochester Public Schools navigates this critical issue.
