Chronic absenteeism among students significantly affects teacher morale, according to a recent study published in Education Researcher and reported in Education Slice. Chronic absenteeism increased from 15% before 2020 to 28% in 2023.
Michael Gottfried, a co-author of the study and associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania, states: “Absenteeism pulls teachers away from that core purpose.”
The study analyzed data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study and showed teachers with higher absenteeism reported lower job satisfaction and feelings of usefulness.
Lindsey Paricio-Moreau, a science teacher, notes that absent students struggle to build relationships, leading to awkwardness upon their return.
The challenges of absenteeism contribute to a negative perception of the teaching profession, with a survey indicating an average teacher morale score of -13.
Education Slice
