Addressing Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy in DC Schools: Criminalization or Restoration?

On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Advocates for Justice and Education’s Education Justice Attorney, Nadiya Pope, Esq., joined dozens of other public and private witnesses at a special oversight hearing on chronic absenteeism and truancy. These issues remain pressing concerns for Washington, D.C.’s public and public charter schools, and recent hearings by the D.C. Council have highlighted the complex factors driving student absences and underscored the need for a holistic, multi-agency approach to improving school attendance. With post-pandemic trends showing significant increases in absenteeism, particularly among Black, female, and economically disadvantaged students, the city faces a critical challenge in ensuring that all students have consistent access to education. Chairman Phil Mendelson and other DC City Council members convened this special oversight hearing with invited 8 guest panelists representing directly impacted school communities, over 50 public witnesses, and 8 public witnesses, including Deputy Mayor of Education Paul Kihn, OSSE Superintendent Dr. Antoinette Mitchell, DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee, and Executive Director of the Public Charter School Board Dr. Michelle Walker-Davis..

Understanding the Scope of Chronic Absenteeism

Data presented at these hearings illustrate the severity of chronic absenteeism in D.C. public and public charter schools. For example, witnesses testified that despite efforts totaling over $15 million, some schools have seen regression in attendance rates. Other witnesses testified with evidence of linkages between chronic absenteeism and multiple underlying issues, including transportation challenges, housing instability, mental health concerns, academic gaps, and fears related to immigration enforcement. Others emphasized that addressing absenteeism requires recognizing it as a community-wide issue, rather than solely a school-level problem. For example, Caroline Pryor from EmpowerEd noted that unsafe school environments, fear, and lack of supportive infrastructure contribute significantly to chronic absenteeism, urging investments in safe transportation and community resources. Representing AJE, Nadiya Pope, gave a powerful testimony highlighting how in-school maltreatment of children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs (CYSHCN) is not taken seriously enough by school leaders and professionals – linking the culture of bullying to severe disengagement from children and parents alike due to long wait periods for investigations and compromising trust.

Successful Strategies and Programmatic Approaches

Multiple stakeholders shared success stories from D.C. schools and community programs. Notably, John Rolle, principal of Garfield Elementary, highlighted a reduction in chronic absenteeism by 18% through modernized facilities, strong school-community partnerships, and data-driven strategies. Similarly, programs like D.C. School Connect, Safe Passage, and the Truancy Reduction Pilot Program have also shown promising outcomes. The Truancy Reduction Pilot Program, run by the D.C.Department of Human Services (DHS), engaged 92% of referred students and families, with participating students showing a 50% increase in attendance and improvements in behavioral functioning for 83% of participants. DHS plans to expand this program to additional schools, demonstrating a scalable approach to supporting at-risk students.

Community-based initiatives also play a key role in addressing absenteeism. For example, Tiara Stewart from DC Scores and Sarah Hill from the Washington Urban Debate League shared that after-school and extracurricular programs, including debate and athletics, have significantly boosted student engagement and attendance. These programs emphasize relationship-building, mentorship, and teamwork, proving that engagement outside the classroom can directly impact in-class attendance.

Policy Recommendations and Legislative Considerations

The hearings revealed a strong consensus on the need for policy reform, cross-agency collaboration, and data-driven approaches. Some of the key recommendations include:

Shifting Truancy Oversight: As part of his widely promoted 16-bill policy package, to improve the well-being of D.C. youth known as the Coordinating Assistance, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment (C.A.R.E.) Plan, Councilmember Zachary Parker proposed the Improving School Attendance Outcomes Amendment Act, which would transfer responsibility for truancy matters from the Child and Family Services Administration (CFSA) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to DHS by 2028.
Data Transparency and Early Intervention: OSSE is expected to release attendance data before the school year begins to help schools identify at-risk students earlier. In addition, this proposed data dashboard is stated to allow for more timely tracking of student attendance, including predictive analytics to anticipate chronic absenteeism risks.
Cross-Agency Resource Alignment: D.C. Councilmembers’ dialogue during the hearing highlighted the importance of coordination between housing, mental health, and youth services to address systemic barriers. The Council is exploring investments in community schools with full-time coordinators, as well as expanding programs like D.C. School Connect and Safe Passage to more neighborhoods.
Student Health and Safety: DC Department of Health (DC Health) is tasked with ensuring each school has a full-time nurse, while DME and city leaders plan to launch a public campaign emphasizing the importance of school attendance.

An important clarifying point made by Chairman Phil Mendelson during the hearing was that DC’s sanctuary city policies regarding immigration enforcement fall under Mayor Bowser’s authority, not the D.C. Council. However, he also notes that the Council continues to explore ways to strengthen protections and ensure safe environments that encourage attendance.

Challenges in Implementation and Healthcare Implications

Chronic absenteeism in DC schools is not just an education issue; it’s a public health concern. As highlighted in the Council hearing, many absences are driven by untreated health conditions, unaddressed mental health needs, and the lack of accessible, trauma-informed services in schools. For CYSHCN and their families, inconsistent access to medical supports or school-based accommodations deepens the cycle of disengagement and mistrust. The absence of coordinated care between families, schools, and healthcare providers leaves vulnerable students navigating systems in crisis rather than systems of care. Addressing absenteeism, therefore, requires integrating health equity strategies, ensuring every child has access to consistent healthcare, counseling, and safe environments that promote both learning and well-being

While there is broad agreement on strategies to improve attendance, stakeholders noted several challenges. Data collection and reporting remain fragmented across agencies, delaying timely interventions. School leadership and staffing constraints can limit the effectiveness of attendance liaisons and case management programs. Transportation and scheduling barriers, particularly for students attending out-of-boundary schools, remain persistent obstacles. Families facing economic hardship often cannot prioritize attendance without systemic support for childcare, safe transit, and academic enrichment.

Furthermore, certain disciplinary practicessuch as denying students access to school events due to absences or behavior, inadvertently discourage engagement. Expert educators like Scott Goldstein of EmpowerEd have advocated for positive incentives rather than punitive measures, emphasizing the importance of fostering a supportive school culture.

The Role of Multi-Agency Collaboration

A recurring theme throughout the hearings was the need for coordinated action among multiple agencies. CFSA, DHS, OSSE, DCPS, the DC Public Charter School Board (DCPCSB), and community organizations must collaborate to ensure that interventions are both timely and effective. Programs like ATEND (Addressing Truancy Through Engagement and Negotiated Dialogue) exemplify the benefits of multi-agency partnerships, providing tailored support for families while reducing the need for formal child welfare involvement. The council also emphasized the need for public reporting and accountability, ensuring that agencies share data on truancy referrals, attendance trends, and program outcomes with policymakers.

Next Steps

From this hearing, the D.C. Council identified several actionable steps to improve attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism:

Truancy Pilot Expansion: DHS will continue to expand the Truancy Reduction Pilot Program to additional schools and implement aggressive recruitment strategies to ensure adequate staffing.
Data Innovation: OSSE will validate attendance data once at the end of the year, enabling faster reporting and the development of predictive analytics dashboards.
Policy Updates: DCPCSB will revise attendance and truancy policies to include chronic absenteeism as a trackable metric and ensure alignment with current practices.
Community Engagement: Expanded investment in after-school programs, mentoring initiatives, and safe passage programs will support student engagement.
Health and Safety Integration: Ensuring full-time school nurses and coordinated care across agencies to address barriers related to mental health and well-being.

In conclusion, chronic absenteeism and truancy in D.C. public and public charter schools are multi-faceted challenges that require holistic, evidence-based solutions. As the city works to implement policy reforms, expand community programs, and strengthen cross-agency collaboration, the focus remains on supporting students and families to ensure consistent access to education. Testimony from educators, parents, and community leaders underscores the importance of early intervention, culturally responsive programming, and family engagement in boosting attendance.

Chairman Phil Mendelson and the D.C. Council must lay out a roadmap for improving student attendance through legislative action, data transparency, and community partnerships. The city’s combined efforts—ranging from Truancy Reduction Pilot Programs to expanded after-school enrichment—offer a promising path forward in addressing chronic absenteeism and ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed academically and socially. That being said, the aspect of effective implementation is still in question and must be the main focus as many students continue to face a school system that too often looks to push them out instead of aiding in their holistic growth.

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