Dr. Beth Maloney, Ed.D., NBCT
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By Dr. Beth Maloney, Ed.D., NBCT | Act One
I was an Arizona teacher for more than 20 years and I loved my time in the classroom. Absenteeism was a problem then and it is still an issue today. Chronic absenteeism is defined by the state as a student missing 10% of the school year or more.
Chronic absence rates among Arizona students are alarmingly high. According to Still Missing Too Much School, 29% of Arizona public school students in grades one through eight were chronically absent during the 2022-23 school year. That is more than double the pre-pandemic rate.
High rates of absence have significant consequences for teaching, learning and student achievement. It is associated with real problems for students including poor learning outcomes, increased absences in later grades, higher dropout rates and harmful impacts on school culture.
With large class sizes, rigorous learning objectives and pacing guides, it is virtually impossible for a student to catch up on lost instructional time. This is especially true when students miss more than a day here and there. Missing school also impacts classroom culture. It is hard to be part of a group when you frequently miss group experiences.
Research also shows that students from some groups experience disproportionately higher rates of chronic absences than other groups. These groups include the economically disadvantaged, students in Title I schools, students with disabilities, students of color and non-English language learners.
These findings highlight challenges in re-engaging students and families to attend school. It will take a concerted effort between the state, local districts, teachers, community charitable organizations, families and students to tackle the issue.
The good news is that one solution to this challenge already exists, and it engages both families and students. It is field trips.
Reflecting on my years of teaching in a high-stakes testing environment, I know students are much more likely to be absent on a standardized test day than on a day with something exciting scheduled like an outing to a museum or live performance.
Research consistently highlights the importance of arts education in youth development, particularly for students from underserved communities. Studies show that access to the arts enhances cognitive skills, improves academic performance and fosters emotional and social growth.
Act One, an Arizona-based charitable organization, is doing its part to help make field trips accessible for the most vulnerable student population. The organization collaborates with cultural institutions to offer field trips with experiential activities such as backstage tours, Q&A sessions and hands-on learning opportunities to provide the maximum impact for students.
There is also a virtual reality arts field trip that can be experienced in classrooms. These curated experiences align with classroom curricula to ensure a well-rounded education — all at no cost to Title I schools.
How do field trips help curb absenteeism? If students are excited to go to school for things like art education and field trips, absence rates decrease. And the more these students are in the classroom experiencing positive learning opportunities the more likely they are to keep coming back day after day.
Candace Greene, an art teacher in Phoenix’s Alhambra School District, recently reflected on the fact that she was able to take 168 kids to a museum thanks to Act One. Every student showed up that day because they were excited about the experience — including the chronically absent. Field trips are amazing tools to help increase student attendance. There’s no better way to learn than through an experience and that is what field trips provide.
Arts and culture field trips give students something to look forward to and create an experience that can last a lifetime. Field trips are a great way to make a dent in the issue of chronic absenteeism in Arizona.
Editor’s note: Dr. Beth Maloney, 2014 Arizona Teacher of the Year, is executive director of Act One, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to providing meaningful arts experiences for students. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
