Chronic absenteeism causes a huge burden on schools, teachers, and the absent students. One group is seeing a higher than average chronic absenteeism rate according to data compiled by the Associated Press and non-profit media Indian County Today. Data was compiled from 2018-2023 looking at 34 states and the District of Columbia.
In North Dakota, the chronic absenteeism rate of students from 2018 to 2023 went from 12% to 22% to 20%. Native American students went from 30% to 44% to 39%. Oklahoma was the only state that was lower than the state average.
“Chronic absenteeism” is defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year for any reason. That includes both excused and unexcused absences.
Devils Lake Public Schools has a high number of Native American students. Some live in Devils Lake while others get bussed in from Fort Totten.
Data that was provided by Superintendent Ned Clooten showed some startling numbers for chronic absenteeism among Native American students. From 2023 to 2024, chronic absenteeism for all students in the district was 25.66%. For Native American students, the number was 43.66%. Devils Lake High School saw Native American students from 2023 to 2024 hit a number of 53.33%. It was down from 2022 to 2023 where the number was at 60.90%. For Central Middle School, for all students, chronic absenteeism was 28.32% from 2023 to 2024. The number is up from 24.55% from 2022 to 2023. Native American students were at 42.86%. The number is down a little from 45.25% from 2022 to 2023.
Clooten said being over 50% is “pretty alarming.”
“I see this more of an issue definitely at the secondary level,” Clooten said. “Let’s look at the middle school data. It is going down but not at the general population. The high school is much worse.”
Clooten has said he has “tried to study and wrap [his] brain” around the reasons why the rate of chronic absenteeism for Native American students is so high.
“I think the one thing is generational trauma… generational trauma is something we have to recognize in our Native American population.”
He also pointed out that past generations may have had negative experiences in school and that gets passed down.
“If you look to parents and their educational experience, when parents don’t have a good educational experience, it follows the children,” he said.
The schools are recognizing the problem and finding ways to address these attendance issues.
Assistant Principal of CMS Jake Wateland outlined the ways they are addressing when a student is chronically absent:
“1. Setup meetings with the student and guardians to identify reasons for the absenteeism and work to address that issue. This may include more academic or social/emotional support.
2. Another option is that we can add students to our attendance liaison for support in getting to school which includes providing rides as needed among other services.
3. If attendance continues to be an issue, we supply either social services or juvenile court with our documented efforts in trying to get the student to school.”
DLHS Principal Ryan Hanson said he “[concured] with Jake on each of those items.”
“I would add that we work with the [Multi-Tiered System of Supports] team and make attempts to find that adult who is trusted by the student who can work with them on a more individual basis. Might mean simply checking in more often. I also try to have individual meetings with all students who are having attendance issues.”
