Sarah W. Lenhoff

Detroit's @cityofdetroit.bsky.social city government can play a bigger role in improving the conditions for educational success for our city's young people. Detroit PEER has released four fact sheets focused on the areas our next mayor should address. detroitpeer.org/resources/

Thanks to the folks @edpolicyinca.org for giving us a chance to apply our research findings on chronic absenteeism to the CA context.

PACE - Rethinking Chronic Absenteeism in California Abstract: Chronic absenteeism—defined as missing 10 percent or more school days—has surged in California since the pandemic, with 20 percent of students chronically absent in 2023–24. This is not mere...

In a new PACE commentary, @sarahlenhoff.bsky.social & @jeremylsinger.bsky.social of WSU COE conclude that schools cannot be expected to solve chronic absenteeism alone but need community & state support to address systemic barriers for students and families. edpolicyinca.org/newsroom/ret... (1/3)

Thank you! Great collaboration as part of the REACH center at Tulane!

Using data from Michigan, we find that third grade retention for struggling readers may be a much less important component of the benefits of literacy reforms than previously understood.

(Thx, @annenberginstitute.bsky.social, for the dissemination bump!)

Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, we have developed a rap...

The Spencer Foundation is offering rapid response bridge funding for those who lost NSF research grants.

www.spencer.org/grant_types/...

Unmasking racial avoidance: Experimental evidence on parental school choice and public health policies during the Covid-19 pandemic COVID-19 drastically changed the school choice landscape as families considered schools with varying public health protocols as well as academic and d…

Reminds me of work by @chantalahailey.bsky.social on perceptions of school safety and quality, esp. during COVID! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

It's absolutely true that some students will be absent no matter what. We argue that health and mental health are major barriers and that drs should work with schools and families to support students, even if that means developing individualized plans for how students can succeed even when absent.

Study finds Michigan public schools need $22.8 billion for repairs. Where's the money? School buildings in the state are aging − rapidly − and a new study has found public district buildings need $22.8 billion in repairs or renovations.

So much time and money spent on testing, accountability, charters, vouchers—really what we need to do is fix the buildings, but there’s never money for it. www.freep.com/story/news/e...

We have recommendations for policymakers and community orgs, too! We need to greatly expand the table of people and organizations who are thinking of student absenteeism as a problem within their scope of influence. Schools cannot solve it alone, and asking them to do so undermines their core work.

3) Avoid counterproductive practices like punishment, penalties, and even some incentives that feel like punishment if students miss out.

4) Attendance-specific personnel should be used as expert navigators to support students with specific common barriers, like housing, transportation, or health.

While there's no silver bullet, we have some ideas.
1) Double down on relationship building and positive school culture, so when families have attendance problems, they are more likely to share them.

2) Focus data collection and analysis on the reasons students are absent, rather than the rates.

Rethinking Chronic Absenteeism A call for community-based approaches to reducing the barriers that prevent regular attendance in K-12 schools In Rethinking Chronic Absenteeism, Sarah Winc...

It has been really rewarding to finally have my & @jeremylsinger.bsky.social's book out in the world! We're finding that many school & community leaders intuitively "get" our premise but are struggling with how to move beyond the common school-centered toolbox.
hep.gse.harvard.edu/978168253961...

In our book, @sarahlenhoff.bsky.social & I recommend policymakers promote a coordinated and cross-sector approach to chronic absenteeism. I was thrilled to learn from @edalliesmn.bsky.social about exciting steps in that direction happening in MN! Some highlights: www.house.mn.gov/sessiondaily...

Our book is now published! You can order it here: hep.gse.harvard.edu/978168253961...

@sarahlenhoff.bsky.social and I would be very happy to talk to anyone who's interested in learning more, or who'd like to discuss some of what they've read.

I've spent the past couple of days in various meetings and convenings. People are in motion everywhere.

I can't stress enough that you should take every opportunity possible to gather with others (virtually and in person). You will feel more grounded.

This statement is nearing 1600 signatories. Have you signed? Have you sent to your friends & colleagues? Your department or university list-serve? Your alumni network?

if not, can you?

bit.ly/DemocracyAndHigherEd
or to go right to signing bit.ly/DemocracyAndHigherEdSign

This news, arriving the day before the "abolish USED" order, captures the fundamental contradiction in this admin's approach to ed policy:

A) We will eliminate the fed role and "send educ back to the states"

B) We will aggressively wield USED against states to enforce our vision for social policy

I've got a paper w/ Kess Ballentine focused on how work policies (e.g., benefits, flexibility, discipline, etc.) & school policies intersect to create opps or challenges for parents' involvement in their children's schooling. Anyone have a panel we could join for @appam.bsky.social #2025APPAM?

I've learned so much from @efrankenberg.bsky.social's scholarship and was lucky enough to work with her on my first publication when I was in grad school. No less important, she is also a wonderful human being. This is so well deserved!

On Monday, 3/31 at 12 PM ET, join @sarahlenhoff.bsky.social and @jeremylsinger.bsky.social for a virtual talk on their book, RETHINKING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. This event is hosted by the Monroe C. Gutman Library, moderated by @ehutt.bsky.social, and is free to attend! https://bit.ly/4k1uuyI

If you have research dependent on these data here is my suggestion
1/N

Big picture:

Create a dataset of cell means (cells must be big enough to pass disclosure)

- load these cell means into many, many tables & put through review

-These cell means can then be used in OLS - which runs on means

AERA has just learned that all restricted-use NCES data licenses will be cancelled, possibly as early as March 20. We urgently request that all AERA members and others in the research community with restricted-use licenses take these two actions: www.aera.net/Research-Pol...

My 9yo daughter just described me as a “chronic absence scientist.”

There are so many excellent chapters in the Handbook! I'm thrilled to have this resource to share w/ students, policymakers, incl. @ksfinnigan.bsky.social on Research Use; @pacomartorell.bsky.social & I. McFarlin on Physical Capital; James Bridgeforth & @drrachelswhite.bsky.social on School Boards.

Hiring Soon flyer for the Annenberg Institute at Brown University for senior research associates positions. More information will be shared on the institute's website soon.

Amidst all the chaos and upheaval in the education policy world, @annenberginstitute.bsky.social will be hiring several senior research associates in the coming months. Hopefully this helps some of the stellar education policy people find their footing again!

Me right now....

hep.gse.harvard.edu/978168253961...

I was really glad to be able to contribute a chapter w/ Sam Speroni on the evidence on school transportation to the new AEFP Live Handbook. This awesome resource - relevant now more than ever - seeks to break down the existing research evidence on key ed issues for policymakers.

On Monday, 3/31 at 12 PM ET, HEP authors @sarahlenhoff.bsky.social and @jeremylsinger.bsky.social will give a free, virtual talk on their new book, RETHINKING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. This event is hosted by the Monroe C. Gutman Library and moderated by @ehutt.bsky.social. https://bit.ly/4k1uuyI