How school climate relates to chronic absence: A multi-level latent profile analysis

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Sociology of Education
• Urban Education

Background:

• Chronic absence is a critical issue in educational settings.
• The relationship between school climate and chronic absence requires further investigation.
• Understanding student perceptions of school climate is vital for addressing attendance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how student perceptions of school climate influence chronic absence rates.
• To identify distinct profiles of school climate at student and school levels.
• To determine the association between these climate profiles and school-level chronic absence.

Main Methods:

• Multilevel latent profile analysis was employed.
• Data included 25,776 middle and high school students from 106 urban schools.
• Student perceptions of school climate were assessed via a district-administered survey.

Main Results:

• Three student-level climate profiles were identified: positive, moderate, and negative.
• Two school-level climate patterns emerged: marginal climate and climate challenged.
• Students in schools with moderate and negative climates had higher chronic absence rates.
• Climate-challenged schools exhibited significantly higher chronic absence rates than marginal climate schools.

Conclusions:

• School climate is significantly associated with chronic absence among urban adolescent students.
• Interventions targeting school climate may help reduce chronic absence.
• Positive school environments are crucial for improving student attendance.