Podcast-Absenteeism

The transcription discusses chronic absenteeism in Milwaukee public schools and how it has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the historical and current challenges faced by students, such as poverty, transportation issues, and housing instability. Despite these challenges, Milwaukee schools are implementing interventions and strategies to address chronic absenteeism and support vulnerable students. The pandemic has further exacerbated disparities and challenges for families, including job losses and mental health issues. However, Milwaukee schools are investing in resources and programs to tackle the root causes of chronic absenteeism and provide every student with a chance at success. The city remains committed to supporting its students and building a brighter future. I want you to picture this. It's March 13th, 2020. You're a student in a bustling American city attending a public school. In spite of limited funds, there's a strong sense of community and teachers go above and beyond to nurture every student's potential. Then, out of the blue, the principal rushes in with alarming news. An epidemic is spreading rapidly worldwide, necessitating an immediate shutdown of schools. Within moments, you're whisked away, uncertain about what lies ahead for your education. Days later, an email arrives, announcing a switch to online instruction. Emotions run high as students and teachers grapple with a sudden shift, ranging from anxiety to excitement about the new learning format. Hey there, listeners. Welcome back to another episode of From the Heart of Milwaukee, where we dive into the stories and issues shaping our vibrant city. I'm your host, Will, and today we're exploring a topic that hits close to home. Chronic absenteeism in our Milwaukee Public Schools and how COVID-19 has impacted it. Before I get to my first topic, I want to talk a little bit about chronic absenteeism. According to the AFP, or the American Federation of Teachers, defined it as, and I quote, Chronic absenteeism, a primary cause for academic achievement, is to find the missing at least 10% of days in a school year regularly, including ex-youth and on-the-screen absenteeism. Unfortunately, this nonsense is getting out of hand. Now, let's really go into the history books, shall we? Chronic absenteeism does not seem to be a misconception. It has been thrown into the fabric of our educational systems for more than a century. I want you to consider this. In the early 1900s, when vehicles were still new and electricity was only beginning to line up our cities, attendance inequalities were already raising up a fuss. Poverty was widespread, particularly in cities like Milwaukee, where families struggled to make ends meet. And let's not forget about transportation or the lack thereof. Many kids simply didn't have a reliable way to get to school, especially if they lived in rural areas or crowded tenement buildings. And as if that wasn't enough, unequal access to education was another hurdle to clear. Some schools had state-of-the-art facilities and well-trained teachers, while others had to make do with crumbling classrooms and outdated textbooks. So if you were to add this all together, it's no wonder that some of these kids struggled to make it to school regularly. The odds were stacked against them from the get-go. Now, let's paint a clearer picture of our beloved Milwaukee. Chronic absenteeism isn't just a minor hiccup. It's been a real tough nefty crack in the city. With a population of over 590,000 students, or sorry, residents, including a significant percentage living below the poverty line, it's no surprise that getting kids to school every day is no small feat. In fact, according to recent data from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, chronic absenteeism rates in Milwaukee are among the highest in the state, with over 20% of students missing 10% or more of the school year. But wait, there's more. Let's talk transportation. In a city where public transit can be unreliable and many families lack access to private vehicles, simply getting to school can feel like a Herculean task. And then there's housing instability. With nearly 30% of Milwaukee residents spending over 30% of their income on housing, when you think about that, it's pretty insane. It's no wonder that many families are forced to move frequently, disrupting their chosen education in the process. So, now add that up with the high poverty rates, the unreliable transportation, and housing instability. It's hard. It's hard for our kids to make it to class. These odds are just always stacked against them from the moment they wake up. Now let's fast forward to today. And chronic absenteeism is still hanging around like an unwelcome guest. But hey, you know we're not throwing in the towel just yet. Not in Milwaukee. We're rolling up our sleeves and we're getting down to business. Now, Milwaukee schools have been facing this issue head on with a variety of targeted interventions and data-driven strategies. I want you guys to close your eyes and picture this. Counselors reaching out to families. Community partnerships forming left and right. And innovative programs designed to keep kids engaged and excited about learning. We've been in the trenches, fighting tooth and nail to turn the tide on chronic absenteeism. But then entered the COVID-19 pandemic. Just when Milwaukee thought they were gaining ground, the world turns upside down. I know I rambled. Don't mention it. School closures, remote learning, mandates, health concerns. COVID-19 threw a wrench into our carefully or Milwaukee's carefully laid plans. Suddenly, teachers were navigating the untraded waters of virtual classrooms while students had to grapple with the challenges of learning from home. Some found it easy being able to do Zoom and other stuff like online schooling through the comfort of the living room. But for others, it was an uphill battle, struggling to access technology in the first place, juggling childcare responsibilities, and also dealing with the overwhelming stress of a global pandemic. I do apologize. And then also, let's not forget about the elephant in the room, the deep-rooted disparities that COVID-19 only exacerbated. Families facing job losses, housing instability, and health challenges were hit the hardest, further widening that gap between the haves and the have-nots. So where does that leave us now? Well, we're picking up the pieces and treading a course forward. Milwaukee schools are doubling down on support for our most vulnerable students, forging stronger community partnerships, and investing in resources to tackle the root causes of chronic absenteeism. Because here in Milwaukee, we believe every kid deserves a shot at success, no matter what challenges they face. Now, COVID-19 didn't just knock on our door. It kicked down with a vengeance. School closures became the new normal, and remote learning became our lifeline. But let's be real here. It wasn't a smooth sailing for everybody. Honestly, it was far from that. I know I said picture this a lot, I mean, but I want you to kind of imagine one more thing. I want you to imagine the families grappling with the harsh realities of job losses, with the unemployment rate soaring to unprecedented levels in Milwaukee. According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Milwaukee reached a staggering 15% at the peak of the pandemic. Imagine that. Nearly double the national average. This crisis has had a devastating impact on families, leading to an increase in poverty and food insecurity. It also has resulted in an increase in mental health issues, with many people feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. And lastly, let's talk about investment. Milwaukee schools are investing in resources to tackle these root causes of chronic absenteeism head-on. Investing in programs that address systemic issues like poverty, transportation barriers, and of course housing instability. They're investing in professional development for teachers and staff to better support students facing adversity. And most importantly, we're investing in our kids. Because here in Milwaukee, every kid deserves a shot. Like I said, every kid deserves a shot, no matter what the challenges they face. So, as we try to course forward in these uncertain times, one thing is clear. Milwaukee is a city that refuses to give up on its kids. We're in this together, and together we will build a brighter future. That's a wrap for today, folks. I want to thank you for tuning in to From the Heart of Milwaukee. Until next time, take care, stay safe, and as always, keep making our city proud. Thank you. you