Kane County Regional Office of Education Continues Work During National Dropout Prevention Month
Every October, the state of Illinois releases the Illinois Report Card, a snapshot of data about every school district in the state. Academic performance, school environments, and the number of students and staff members are among the information compiled in these reports.
The Kane County Regional Office of Education and the school districts we serve also monitor two key data points: chronic absenteeism and chronic truancy rates. Although the terms “chronic absenteeism” and “truancy” are sometimes used interchangeably, there are distinct differences. The state defines a chronic absentee as a student who misses 10 percent of school days within an academic year, with or without a valid excuse. That equals 18 days out of an average 180-day school year.
A “chronic truant” is defined by the state as a student who misses five percent of school days within an academic year without a valid excuse. However, excused absences, such as those for illness, suspension, or caregiving responsibilities, are not included in this figure.
Kane County ROE staff prepare for these reports each year and allocate resources based on historical trends and areas of need. The Truancy Prevention/Intervention Program, now in its 40th year at the ROE, focuses on addressing truancy as a deterrent to prevent students from becoming chronically absent. During the 2023-24 school year, members of our Youth Outreach team completed the following services, among others:
- 620 home visits
- 1,842 school visits
- 324 school conferences
- 32 regional conferences
During this time, our office also received 2,121 referrals from local schools requesting truancy assistance.
As we approach the midpoint of fall, Kane County ROE staff continue to leverage community and development resources in these efforts. October is observed as National Dropout Prevention Month. Members of our team recently attended the National School Dropout Prevention Conference in New Orleans, where they supported Kari Glenn, a Youth Outreach team member pursuing a Trauma-Skilled Specialist Certification from the National Dropout Prevention Center. This training will equip Kari with the skills to apply research on school climate and customize instructional practices to better support and improve outcomes for at-risk youth in Kane County.
