March 25, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

SMMUSD District Officials Explore Ways to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism

According to new data, last year 19.3 percent of kindergarten through eighth-grade students in SMMUSD were chronically absent

By Sam Catanzaro 

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) officials are exploring ways to address the growing absenteeism among students, including ramping up home visits and other outreach efforts. 

The California Dashboard, a database compiled by the California Department of Education, recently reported that chronic absenteeism rates in the district were “high.” In 2022, 19.3 percent of kindergarten through eighth-grade students in SMMUSD were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10 percent or more of the school year. Additionally, another district report showed that the rate was at 30 percent for all K-12th-grade students for the first half of the 2022-23 school year.

Chronic absenteeism was found to be highest among foster youth and socioeconomically disadvantaged students at 26.8 percent and 31.2 percent, respectively. Board of Education President Maria Leon-Vasquez emphasized that understanding these students’ situations is crucial in addressing their absenteeism.

“I think it’s real crucial that we understand the issues at home because that will lead to how maybe the child is not doing well in school because of the home issues – sometimes we’re missing that piece and that’s a big piece,” Leon-Vasquez said during a recent board meeting. 

To address this issue, SMMUSD used home visits before COVID-19 hit. Although these visits were significantly cut back during the pandemic, according to Director of Student Services Tara Brown they are now slowly resuming with community liaisons, administrators, and security officers helping with these visits.

Other measures outlined by district staff include encouraging students to come early to school for free breakfast to get them there on time for class and increasing opportunities for communication between teachers and parents.

While acknowledging that attendance issues are severe in SMMUSD schools, board members expressed frustration about including both unexcused and excused absences in the data. This makes it difficult to understand the extent of the problem and what needs further research. 

“If they’re out sick then we know ‘okay they’re out sick,’ but who are the students that are not coming to school just because there’s something and it’s not for illness, it’s not for something that’s excused – that’s where we focus our energy,” said SMMUSD assistant superintendent of educational services Jacqueline Mora.

Related Posts

Santa Monica Pet Hotel Hosts Puppy-Friendly St. Patty’s Day Party

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

A new pet hotel in Santa Monica recently hosted a St. Patrick’s Day party for local dogs. Check out all...

Santa Monica Mountains Largest Ever Restoration Project Nears Completion After 7,000 Hours of Volunteer Work

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Final planting event will be held Saturday, March 25 at 9 a.m. for the park’s largest ever restoration project After...

California Appeals Court Rules Uber and Lyft Can Classify Drivers as Independent Contractors

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

Proposition 22 exempted ride-share companies from certain labor laws, court rules in favor of the companies By Sam Catanzaro ​​A...

Film Review – Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre

March 24, 2023

March 24, 2023

FILM REVIEWOPERATION FORTUNE: Ruse de GuerreRated R114 MinutesReleased March 3rd Now that the season of weighty Oscar contender films is...

Santa Monica Uses Innovative Water Recycling Facility to Capture and Store Rainwater

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

City’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project reducing reliance on imported water and sets a model for future projects Santa Monica has...

Shuttered Santa Monica Loews Hotel to Rebrand and Reopen as a Regent Hotel

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Hotel’s new operator announces plans for $4 million renovation, including rebranding and upgrading accessibility for guests with disabilities By Dolores...

Three Arrested for Identity Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and Grand Theft in Santa Monica

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Suspects found with over 20 stolen cellphones, credit cards, and identification Three individuals were arrested in Santa Monica for identity...

Proposal for Improved Communication With Street Vendors Sparks Contentious Debate in City Council Meeting

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Councilmembers divided over proposal calling for City Manager to engage in meaningful consultation with authorized vendors regarding sidewalk vending policies...

Former Bank Building in Santa Monica Becomes a Food Destination with Addition of Katsu Bar

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Katsu Bar joins Paderia and Oakberry in the transformation of the 3032 Wilshire building By Dolores Quintana Katsu Bar has...

Survey: Should Officials Remove Barriers to Outdoor Dining?

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we live our lives, and one of the most significant impacts has been...

Gasolina Cafe Owner, Sandra Cordero, to Open New Tapas Bar in Santa Monica

March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

Tapas bar expected to open late spring in former Heroic Italian space at 516 Santa Monica Boulevard  Sandra Cordero, the...

California’s AB 1217 Could Supersede Costly Outdoor Dining Permits Proposed by Municipalities

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

Legislation would preempt local ordinances and preserve regulatory flexibility for struggling neighborhood restaurants By Sam Catanzaro A new bill proposed...

Emerging Artist Jesse Liu Opens First-Ever Exhibition in Venice Gallery

March 22, 2023

March 22, 2023

“Spring Fever” currently on display at Yiwei Gallery By Keemia Zhang Local artist Jesse Liu has opened her first solo...

Santa Monica Place Invites LGBTQIA+ Artisans to Apply for Made With PRIDE Marketplace

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Partnering with Streetlet, the marketplace will take place each weekend in June and showcase local goods made in Southern California....

Santa Monica Councilmember Phil Brock Appointed to National League of Cities Council on Youth, Education, and Families

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Brock to collaborate with group of local leaders to develop and guide programs for communities across the country Santa Monica...