09-02-2026, 10:46 PM
How can we improve school attendance?
A new systematic review and meta-analysis examined 61 randomized controlled trial studies from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US to determine which interventions are most effective at improving school attendance. Persistent absenteeism has become an increasing concern since the COVID-19 pandemic because missing school is associated with poorer educational, behavioral and developmental outcomes. The researchers found that interventions involving parents and improved school–parent communication produced the most consistent improvements in attendance.
Another approach with relatively strong evidence was individual mentoring, particularly for younger students. Programs teaching social and emotional skills, behavioral interventions and targeted support for students at high risk of absenteeism also showed promising results, although fewer studies have evaluated them. Importantly, the researchers argue that absenteeism has many different causes, meaning that schools should not rely on a single universal solution. Support should instead be adapted to individual students and their circumstances.
The study concludes that strengthening relationships among schools, students and families should be central to attendance policies. Parent-engagement programs may be particularly suitable for large-scale implementation because they are comparatively easy to expand, while mentoring and personalized support can complement them for students with more complex needs. The authors also call for more UK-based randomized trials to determine which interventions work best in different school environments.
Key takeaways
ARTICLE
A new systematic review and meta-analysis examined 61 randomized controlled trial studies from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US to determine which interventions are most effective at improving school attendance. Persistent absenteeism has become an increasing concern since the COVID-19 pandemic because missing school is associated with poorer educational, behavioral and developmental outcomes. The researchers found that interventions involving parents and improved school–parent communication produced the most consistent improvements in attendance.
Another approach with relatively strong evidence was individual mentoring, particularly for younger students. Programs teaching social and emotional skills, behavioral interventions and targeted support for students at high risk of absenteeism also showed promising results, although fewer studies have evaluated them. Importantly, the researchers argue that absenteeism has many different causes, meaning that schools should not rely on a single universal solution. Support should instead be adapted to individual students and their circumstances.
The study concludes that strengthening relationships among schools, students and families should be central to attendance policies. Parent-engagement programs may be particularly suitable for large-scale implementation because they are comparatively easy to expand, while mentoring and personalized support can complement them for students with more complex needs. The authors also call for more UK-based randomized trials to determine which interventions work best in different school environments.
Key takeaways
- Parent involvement and better communication are among the most consistently effective interventions.
- Mentoring and individualized support can improve attendance, especially among younger students.
- School absenteeism has multiple causes, so a one-size-fits-all policy is unlikely to work.
- Effective attendance strategies should combine family engagement, strong student–school relationships and targeted support.
ARTICLE
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