Ready to Return
The CPS Response to Chronic Absenteeism
An Ongoing Discussion and Resource Collaboration
The Ready to Return Project
Whether students are returning to the same school or entering a new one, returning after a serious incident, extended absence, or intermittent (chronic absenteeism) can be challenging. During their time away, they may have faced difficult experiences that aren’t immediately visible to teachers. As they return, students might feel uncertain about what to expect. They may worry about falling behind academically, being treated differently by peers or teachers, or encountering unresolved relationship issues. These and other stressors can make the transition back to school difficult. School staff must support students, reduce stress, and help them return successfully.
What is Chronic Absenteeism
A student who is chronically absent is absent 10% or more
(excused or unexcused) at any point in the school year.
If there are 100 days in a school year, and the student missed 10 days, the student is considered chronically absent because they missed 10%.
Absenteeism Causes and Responses
Learn about the effects of Chronic Absenteeism, and review reasons that a student may be absent for a significant period of time.
Student Priority Groups
Some students may require additional targeted support based on their individual circumstances or needs. To address this, specific departments and programs have been established to provide tailored assistance to particular student groups.
Resources
We have compiled many CPS and community resources to help your staff and students with the return process. Learn how to organize and empower your school staff to respond to various circumstances that lead to frequent absence.
Contributors
A CPS Response to Chronic Absenteeism effort is a cross-district collaboration that aims to create a resource for CPS schools that focuses on ways to understand, and respond to chronic absenteeism, as well as, elevate the complex nature of why students are absent.
- Office of College and Career Success
- Office of School Counselors and Post-Secondary Advising (OSCPA)
- Office of Teaching and Learning (T&L)
- Office of Health and Wellness (OSHW)
- Office of Student Disabilities (OSD)
- Office of Multicultural-Multilingual Education (OMME)
- Office of Social Emotional Learning (OSEL)
- Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE)
- Department of MTSS and Assessment
- Lurie's Center of Childhood Resilience