School Attendance and Absenteeism: Towards Next-Generation Common Measurement
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| Title: | School Attendance and Absenteeism: Towards Next-Generation Common Measurement |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Christopher A. Kearney (ORCID |
| Source: | Review of Education. 2026 14(1). |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 23 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Evaluative |
| Descriptors: | Attendance Patterns, Attendance, Geographic Regions, Foreign Countries, Measurement, Psychometrics |
| DOI: | 10.1002/rev3.70146 |
| ISSN: | 2049-6613 |
| Abstract: | School attendance and absenteeism are critical targets of educational and health-based policies and practices that often depend heavily on attendance/absenteeism and related construct data. At the same time, the quality of school attendance/absenteeism and related data has come under substantial scrutiny and criticism in recent years, particularly with respect to measurement, utilization, context and interoperability. The development of a common, valid and cost-effective measure of school attendance/absenteeism to address these limitations would thus be desirable. This article initially provides a brief review and critique of contemporary systemic and analytic measurement strategies related to school attendance/absenteeism and related constructs. Issues of comparability and variability across professional disciplines and countries/regions are raised, along with a suggestion for the formulation of a next-generation common assessment measure of school attendance/absenteeism and related constructs that emphasizes accessibility and feasibility. A set of principles and possible domains for next-generation common measurement are then presented. This includes a discussion of dimensionality regarding definition, achievement and engagement, functional impairment, interoperability across multiple sources and agencies, and ease of measurement. Finally, a potential roadmap for item and scale development and evaluation is presented to enhance the utility of a common measure across multiple agencies and areas. The article is not meant to be the final word regarding the measurement of school attendance/absenteeism and related constructs, but rather a potential blueprint for developing a common, brief measure that may be useful and modifiable across multiple agencies, jurisdictions and geographical areas. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1504132 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | School attendance and absenteeism are critical targets of educational and health-based policies and practices that often depend heavily on attendance/absenteeism and related construct data. At the same time, the quality of school attendance/absenteeism and related data has come under substantial scrutiny and criticism in recent years, particularly with respect to measurement, utilization, context and interoperability. The development of a common, valid and cost-effective measure of school attendance/absenteeism to address these limitations would thus be desirable. This article initially provides a brief review and critique of contemporary systemic and analytic measurement strategies related to school attendance/absenteeism and related constructs. Issues of comparability and variability across professional disciplines and countries/regions are raised, along with a suggestion for the formulation of a next-generation common assessment measure of school attendance/absenteeism and related constructs that emphasizes accessibility and feasibility. A set of principles and possible domains for next-generation common measurement are then presented. This includes a discussion of dimensionality regarding definition, achievement and engagement, functional impairment, interoperability across multiple sources and agencies, and ease of measurement. Finally, a potential roadmap for item and scale development and evaluation is presented to enhance the utility of a common measure across multiple agencies and areas. The article is not meant to be the final word regarding the measurement of school attendance/absenteeism and related constructs, but rather a potential blueprint for developing a common, brief measure that may be useful and modifiable across multiple agencies, jurisdictions and geographical areas. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2049-6613 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/rev3.70146 |
