Missing Classmates and Attendance Patterns in Elementary Schools
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| Title: | Missing Classmates and Attendance Patterns in Elementary Schools |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | J. Jacob Kirksey (ORCID |
| Source: | American Educational Research Journal. 2026 63(1):197-222. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 26 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education |
| Descriptors: | Elementary School Students, Attendance Patterns, Influences, Peer Relationship, School Districts, Academic Achievement, Student Behavior, Time |
| Geographic Terms: | Texas |
| DOI: | 10.3102/00028312251400716 |
| ISSN: | 0002-8312 1935-1011 |
| Abstract: | Policymakers and educational leaders have invested considerable effort in identifying factors that contribute to student absenteeism. While research has extensively examined environmental and school-level influences, less attention has been given to how classroom dynamics shape attendance patterns. This study examined the impact of peer absenteeism on individual student attendance in four Texas school districts, leveraging daily-level attendance data. Findings indicate that classmates' absences increase a student's likelihood of being absent the following day, and these effects persist even after removing absences attributed to illness. We did not find differences based on peer achievement levels. Lastly, we found that peer absences correspond to student absences not just the following day but for several days into the school week, reinforcing the broader role of classroom disruptions in shaping attendance behavior. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1494723 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Policymakers and educational leaders have invested considerable effort in identifying factors that contribute to student absenteeism. While research has extensively examined environmental and school-level influences, less attention has been given to how classroom dynamics shape attendance patterns. This study examined the impact of peer absenteeism on individual student attendance in four Texas school districts, leveraging daily-level attendance data. Findings indicate that classmates' absences increase a student's likelihood of being absent the following day, and these effects persist even after removing absences attributed to illness. We did not find differences based on peer achievement levels. Lastly, we found that peer absences correspond to student absences not just the following day but for several days into the school week, reinforcing the broader role of classroom disruptions in shaping attendance behavior. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0002-8312 1935-1011 |
| DOI: | 10.3102/00028312251400716 |
