COVID-19, Online Learning, and Absenteeism in Detroit. EdWorkingPaper No. 22-609

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: COVID-19, Online Learning, and Absenteeism in Detroit. EdWorkingPaper No. 22-609
Language: English
Authors: Sarah Winchell Lenhoff, Jeremy Singer, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Source: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2024.
Availability: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 60
Publication Date: 2024
Sponsoring Agency: Spencer Foundation
Skillman Foundation
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: COVID-19, Pandemics, Electronic Learning, Distance Education, Attendance, Economically Disadvantaged, Access to Computers, Access to Internet, Attendance Patterns
Geographic Terms: Michigan (Detroit)
Abstract: How much school students attend is a powerful indicator of their wellbeing and a strong predictor of their future success in school. Prior research has documented the myriad in-school and out-of-school factors that contribute to high levels of student absenteeism, many emerging from the root causes of poverty and disengagement. The shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic likely disrupted prior barriers to attendance and may have created new ones. This sequential explanatory mixed-methods study examined student absenteeism during the 2020-21 school year in Detroit. We used administrative data to show whether and how attendance patterns changed, and we linked family survey and interview data to explain those patterns. We found that 70% of students were chronically absent, with 40% of parents reporting that computer problems contributed to absenteeism. While measures of socioeconomic disadvantage and computer/internet issues were associated with lower attendance and higher probability of chronic absenteeism, reported levels of hardship during the pandemic were not. Despite significant investment in technology, the district's strategies for engaging students were not sufficient in overcoming economic hardships and the new challenges of online learning. [Additional funding for this report was received from the Midwest Mobility from Poverty Network (Strategic Partnerships to Improve Economic Mobility Grant Program).]
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED672101
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED672101
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED672101
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: COVID-19, Online Learning, and Absenteeism in Detroit. EdWorkingPaper No. 22-609
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sarah+Winchell+Lenhoff%22">Sarah Winchell Lenhoff</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jeremy+Singer%22">Jeremy Singer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Annenberg+Institute+for+School+Reform+at+Brown+University%22">Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Annenberg+Institute+for+School+Reform+at+Brown+University%22"><i>Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University</i></searchLink>. 2024.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 60
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2024
– Name: SourceSuprt
  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Spencer Foundation<br />Skillman Foundation
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19%22">COVID-19</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pandemics%22">Pandemics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Distance+Education%22">Distance Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attendance%22">Attendance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economically+Disadvantaged%22">Economically Disadvantaged</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Computers%22">Access to Computers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Internet%22">Access to Internet</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attendance+Patterns%22">Attendance Patterns</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Michigan+%28Detroit%29%22">Michigan (Detroit)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: How much school students attend is a powerful indicator of their wellbeing and a strong predictor of their future success in school. Prior research has documented the myriad in-school and out-of-school factors that contribute to high levels of student absenteeism, many emerging from the root causes of poverty and disengagement. The shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic likely disrupted prior barriers to attendance and may have created new ones. This sequential explanatory mixed-methods study examined student absenteeism during the 2020-21 school year in Detroit. We used administrative data to show whether and how attendance patterns changed, and we linked family survey and interview data to explain those patterns. We found that 70% of students were chronically absent, with 40% of parents reporting that computer problems contributed to absenteeism. While measures of socioeconomic disadvantage and computer/internet issues were associated with lower attendance and higher probability of chronic absenteeism, reported levels of hardship during the pandemic were not. Despite significant investment in technology, the district's strategies for engaging students were not sufficient in overcoming economic hardships and the new challenges of online learning. [Additional funding for this report was received from the Midwest Mobility from Poverty Network (Strategic Partnerships to Improve Economic Mobility Grant Program).]
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED672101
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED672101
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 60
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pandemics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electronic Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Distance Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attendance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economically Disadvantaged
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Computers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Internet
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attendance Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Michigan (Detroit)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: COVID-19, Online Learning, and Absenteeism in Detroit. EdWorkingPaper No. 22-609
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sarah Winchell Lenhoff
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jeremy Singer
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2024
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
              Type: main
ResultId 1