Atlanta, September 18, 2025
News Summary
Atlanta Public Schools has initiated a new program, involving social workers from the District Attendance Review Team (DART), to address absenteeism and tardiness. The initiative aims to engage families in their homes, identify barriers like financial struggles and transportation issues, and improve student attendance. While attendance rates show signs of improvement, the district faces declining enrollment, with only 65% of school capacity being utilized. Plans for future actions, including possible school closures and redistricting, are being considered due to over 21,000 unoccupied seats in schools.
Atlanta
Atlanta Public Schools have launched a new initiative to combat significant issues of absenteeism and tardiness among students. The District Attendance Review Team (DART) is deploying social workers to visit homes in an effort to engage directly with families and identify barriers affecting student attendance.
Common barriers reported include financial struggles, lack of transportation, and essential needs such as clothing and food. A school social worker noted that attendance issues often indicate larger underlying problems. One school in particular, Cleveland Avenue Elementary, has faced notably high absenteeism rates, prompting the school district to intervene.
Parents have mixed feelings about the initiative; one parent described the visit as a “rude awakening” yet acknowledged the beneficial effects it had on improving her child’s punctuality. Concerns remain about persistent absenteeism even after schools reopened, which has led social workers to assist families in overcoming financial difficulties and accessing essential resources.
Encouragingly, attendance rates across the district are reportedly on the rise, with more students arriving to school on time consistently. Despite these strides, Atlanta Public Schools are facing a significant drop in student enrollment, with current utilization reported at only 65% of school capacity for the 2024-25 academic year.
Projections indicate that enrollment will stabilize around that percentage until the 2029-30 school year, leaving over 21,000 open seats within the district. The Atlanta Public Schools has engaged HPM, a management firm, to oversee district construction projects and assist with planning in light of this declining enrollment.
The financial burden is substantial, costing the district approximately $350 million due to unfilled school seats. To mitigate these challenges, a new facilities plan may result in school closures, redistricting, and possible mergers.
Chronic absenteeism poses a significant issue statewide, with more than 360,000 students in Georgia defined as chronically absent, meaning they miss 10% or more of the school year. State lawmakers are actively addressing this “quiet crisis,” discussing various measures to reduce chronic absenteeism. Contributing factors include students needing to work to support their families, health issues, and lack of basic necessities.
The impacts of chronic absenteeism can be severe, affecting academic performance, social-emotional development, and future health outcomes. Proposed solutions include an increased presence of social workers, health screenings, and restorative justice approaches aimed at improving attendance. Educators are encouraged to foster positive relationships with students to better understand and address the root causes of absenteeism.
FAQ
What initiative is Atlanta Public Schools implementing to combat absenteeism?
The District Attendance Review Team (DART) is implementing a new strategy involving social workers visiting homes to engage with families and identify barriers to attendance.
What barriers to attendance have been identified by social workers?
Common barriers include financial struggles, lack of transportation, and basic needs issues like clothing and food.
How are attendance rates across Atlanta Public Schools changing?
Attendance rates across the district are reportedly improving, with more students arriving on time consistently.
What is the current status of student enrollment in Atlanta Public Schools?
The district is facing a significant drop in student enrollment, utilizing only 65% of its school capacity for the 2024-25 school year, with projections suggesting enrollment will remain around that percentage until the 2029-30 school year.
Key Features of the Initiative
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Home Visits by Social Workers | Engagement with families to uncover barriers to attendance. |
| Common Barriers Addressed | Financial issues, lack of transportation, basic needs for clothing and food. |
| Positive Outcomes | Attendance rates improving; parents reporting better punctuality in children. |
| Enrollment Challenges | Only 65% utilization of school capacity with over 21,000 open seats. |
| Proposed Future Actions | Possible school closures, redistricting, and merging due to declining enrollment. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Cleveland Avenue Elementary School Boosts Attendance to Over 90%
Support Grows for Truancy Intervention Project in Atlanta
Atlanta Public Schools to Discuss Potential Changes
Statesboro Economic Growth Driven by Georgia Southern University
Combating Chronic Absenteeism in Atlanta Schools
Georgia’s Voting Legislation Controversy Ignites Debate
Atlanta Police Search for Missing Children Brooklyn Reeves and Taylen Boykins
Georgia’s Literacy Initiative Shows Promising Results
Atlanta’s Critical Housing Shortage Exceeds 200,000 Homes
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Additional Resources
- WSB TV: Atlanta Schools Wrestle with Chronic Absenteeism
- Wikipedia: Chronic Absenteeism
- Rough Draft Atlanta: Fulton County Schools Attendance Performance
- Google Search: School Attendance Issues
- K12 Dive: Atlanta Public Schools Redistricting Plan
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Fox 5 Atlanta: College Park Utility Bill Discount for School Attendance
- Google Scholar: School Attendance Reforms
- 11Alive: Atlanta Public Schools Consider Closures
- Google News: Absenteeism in Schools
Author: STAFF HERE ATLANTA WRITER
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