School refusal and avoidance are pressing issues in educational settings, significantly affecting a student's ability to engage with their learning environment. Around 10-15% of students are estimated to miss 10 percent or more school days each year, making them “chronically absent.” 

Understanding the root causes and implementing effective strategies is crucial for fostering an inclusive and supportive atmosphere. 

Keep reading to learn how to determine the root causes of school avoidance, actionable goals schools can take to curb absenteeism, and tips for creating a supportive environment. 

What Leads to School Avoidance

School avoidance often stems from four primary functions:

1. Avoidance of distress: Students may resist school to escape situations that provoke negative feelings or anxiety.
2. Escape from performance anxiety: Some students struggle with specific content areas or peer interactions, leading to a desire to avoid school altogether.
3. Seeking attention: School refusal can sometimes be a way for students to gain attention from significant others outside of school.
4. Pursuing tangible rewards: Some may find more appealing activities or rewards outside of the school environment.

Identifying the reasoning behind these behaviors is essential but can be challenging. Engaging students and families to uncover these root causes requires careful and empathetic communication.

Steps to Identify Root Causes

The best approach to identifying the root causes of school avoidance is by using objective assessments. This allows you to gather data and can help facilitate open conversations between parents, students, and educators in a non-threatening space.

“I can’t underscore enough the importance of these objective measures," says Dr. Frank Santora.

“I can’t underscore enough the importance of these objective measures, because as administrators or staff, when we're in the throes of dealing with these scenarios it is emotionally ridden,” says Dr. Frank Santora, Superintendent at Roxbury Public Schools.

“So having the opportunity to rely on some objective measure, whether it be from a staff member, a teacher, a parent, and a student, is so powerful in being able to look at what the scenario actually is.” 

Utilize the School Refusal Scale

Secure data by first using screening tools to understand the impact of school refusal and school avoidance.

Sharing this scale with parents can initiate discussions around school avoidance. This tool helps categorize behaviors into one of the four functions, providing clarity on potential underlying issues, says Dr. Paul Barbato, Director of Special Services at Dumont Public Schools.

Get the Child’s Perspective

Gathering the student’s perspective directly is vital. Children may feel more comfortable expressing their feelings through a child-friendly format of the screener, revealing concerns that may not come up in family discussions.

“Knowing what the child is feeling from their perspective is vital for us to connect with what would be a reinforcer, what would be sequentially reinforcing that child to remain home,” says Dr. Barbato.

Monitor Behavior with Logs

Keeping detailed logs of behaviors and interactions can help track progress and identify patterns. This data-driven approach allows educators to discern whether the behaviors are internally or externally motivated.

Actionable Goals for Schools

Implement a Wraparound Support Approach

Once you have identified the root causes of a student’s school avoidance, a collaborative approach is essential to resolving the issue. A "wraparound support approach" involves integrating various resources and services:

Collaborate with External Providers: With parental consent, connect families to community resources for additional support. Schools are increasingly taking on the responsibility of linking students and families with external services.

Engage Parents Meaningfully: Develop structures to support parents through workshops, informational sessions, or resource guides. This can empower families to be active participants in the support process.

Create a Physical Action Plan

Document a plan that outlines strategies and interventions. This should be accessible to all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and support staff. Systems like MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) can help memorialize these efforts.

Build Capacity for Therapeutic Supports

Train staff on various clinical approaches (CBT, DBT, etc.) to enhance their ability to support students. This will foster a stronger therapeutic alliance and promote breakthroughs in student engagement.

Identify Red Flags

Develop clear communication channels for all staff to recognize signs of distress and school refusal. Keeping the focus on getting students to school is essential.

How to Create a Supportive Environment

There are two steps to creating a supportive environment. One is to deal with student behaviors that we are seeing; the other is to create an environment where these behaviors decline in frequency, an environment that supports a sense of safety and belonging. Here’s how to do this across the school and within the individual classroom. 

School-Wide Actions

• Staff Training and PD Opportunities: Provide ongoing professional development on social-emotional learning and effective intervention strategies.
• Adopt Strong Anti-Bullying Policies: Create a safe school environment where all students feel respected and valued.
• Promote Diversity and Inclusion: Foster an atmosphere that celebrates differences, helping all students feel a sense of belonging.

Classroom Actions

• Implement Mindfulness Practices: Encourage mindfulness in classrooms to help students manage anxiety and promote emotional regulation.
• Apply Culturally Responsive Practices: Tailor approaches to fit the diverse backgrounds and needs of students.
• Cultivate a Growth Mindset: Encourage students to view challenges as opportunities for growth, enhancing resilience.

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Addressing school refusal and avoidance requires a multifaceted approach that involves understanding, collaboration, and continuous support. By implementing these best practices, schools can create an environment where every student feels valued, safe, and ready to learn. 

“The more you delve deeper into one student, it starts to become apparent that whatever the function is that keeps them at home, there's a system in place that's allowing them to do so. And that's really where the tough work comes in,” says Tania Symmons, Director of Special Services at Verona Public Schools.

Building strong relationships with students and families is key to fostering resilience and encouraging school attendance, ultimately leading to greater academic success and emotional well-being.

By adopting these strategies, educators can better support students facing school refusal, ensuring they have the resources and understanding needed to thrive in their learning environments.

For more ideas on for addressing school refusal and avoidance, check out our webinar in partnership with NAPSA.