On January 24th, a dynamic researcher-practitioner panel convened with local school leaders to delve into the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism. The panel provided a unique platform for collective knowledge sharing and learning, fostering collaboration among education stakeholders in the ongoing battle against absenteeism.
Moderated by Mason’s professor of education, Anne Holton, the panel witnessed insightful discussions and presentations aimed at understanding the root causes of absenteeism and exploring effective solutions.
Dr. Seth Hunter and doctoral student, Alyssa Barone, presented the latest research findings on attendance causes and solutions. The presentation, characterized by its rigor and up-to-date insights, shed light on the multifaceted nature of absenteeism and highlighted evidence-based strategies for improvement. In the aftermath of the enlightening session, two local school divisions reached out to Dr. Hunter expressing interest in collaborating on student attendance research tailored to their unique contexts. These collaborations are poised to delve deeper into the specific challenges faced by each division and identify context-specific solutions to enhance student attendance rates.
The event underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing chronic absenteeism and showcased the power of research-practice partnerships in driving meaningful change in education.