Harris, Debbie S and Matlock, M. Jason and Otey, John P ADDRESSING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM THROUGH ANETWORKED IMPROVEMENT COMMUNITY USING IMPROVEMENT SCIENCE. 2025. Radford University, Ed.D. Dissertation. Radford University Scholars' Repository.
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Abstract
Chronic absenteeism poses a significant and persistent challenge for schools across Virginia, impacting academic achievement, student engagement, and overall school performance. Students who miss 10% or more of instructional days—usually equivalent to 18 days in a 180-day year—are identified as chronically absent by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Such absences disrupt access to high-quality, tier-one instruction, impede social development, and contribute to long-term achievement gaps (Gottfried, 2014). This study examines chronic absenteeism through the collaborative efforts of three principals—John Otey, Jason Matlock, and Debbie Harris—each representing different educational settings: urban, rural, and suburban. Operating as a Networked Improvement Community (NIC), the three principals sought to understand contributing factors of absenteeism within Urban Elementary School (UES), Damascus Middle School (DMS), and Read Mountain Middle School (RMMS), and to develop strategies to address the issues contributing to chronic absenteeism. Drawing upon improvement science principles (Bryk et al., 2015), the NIC developed a shared theory of improvement that focused on two primary drivers: (1) improving family perceptions of attendance, and (2) refining school-level procedures for addressing absenteeism. The change ideas focused on improving the system by which absences are managed with the intent to improve early, personalized, and positive communication with families—framing absences as missed opportunities rather than rule violations—then families will be more likely to prioritize consistent attendance.
| Item Type: | Ed.D. Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This dissertation should remain embargoed |
| Subjects: | L Education > L Education (General) |
| Divisions: | Radford University > College of Education and Human Development |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Apr 2026 01:42 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Apr 2026 01:42 |
| URI: | http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/1326 |
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