The Chronic Absenteeism Reduction Act (H.R. 1864) was passed in the House of Representatives on April 2017 to allow federal funding to be used to address chronic absenteeism in Elementary and Secondary schools.
Chronic absenteeism and tardiness is epidemic that is hitting nation wide. Buffalo Public Schools are especially hurting from this. Most schools do not have enough extra funding to target this problem and it is playing a crucial role in grades, graduation rates and overall success of the students. It is important we allocate federal funds in order to reduce absenteeism rates across Buffalo and implement programs district wide.
According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics Principal 6.0 - Social and Political Action, all social workers must do their part in engaging in social and political action and ensuring all people have equal access to these services in order for all peoples basic needs to fully develop. By implementing programs across the Buffalo Public School District, all children will be able to receive services due to their chronic absenteeism or tardiness.
It is vital that we are not only addressing absenteeism, but addressing why being chronically tardy is detrimental to a child's education. For example; if a child is 30 minutes late to school everyday and their first subject is math, that child is missing an important part of their education.
Link to H.R 1864- The Chronic Absenteeism Reduction Act
Link to NASW Code of Ethics
H.R. 1864, 115 Cong. (2017) (enacted).
NASW. (2017). NASW Code of Ethics. Socialworkers.org.
