Move from Crisis to Connection

September 15, 2025

Chronic absenteeism is a crisis in America’s schools. According to Ed Data Express, in the 2022-23 school year, 27.8% of students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of their school days. Chronic absenteeism was especially prevalent among certain populations, rising to 46.1% for Native American students, 45.1% for Pacific Islander students, 37% for Black students, and 36% for students with disabilities.

Lack of support for adolescent students facing mental health issues, among other causes, have contributed to these high rates of absenteeism. In response to a 2021 CDC study, 44% of high school students said they feel persistently sad or hopeless; meanwhile the NIH has found that it takes an average of 11 years for a child to receive treatment for anxiety or depression after developing symptoms. These gaps in mental health support are more than statistics; they’re shaping student outcomes. A 2024 study from the University of Southern California shed further light on the impact of this gap in mental health support. Some of the key findings include:

• Teen girls are more likely than boys to exhibit distress by experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, while boys externalize behaviors and hyperactivity.
• Mental health service availability is more than 20 percentage points greater in schools serving more white and higher-income households. Black and lower-income families report that they have access to fewer school mental health services—but are more likely to use them when available.
• Students on track to be chronically absent or those earning Cs are three times more likely to face mental health challenges than those with fewer absences or who are earning A’s and Bs.
• When students receive mental health support in school, 75% of parents report that these services are beneficial.

As Amie Rapaport, co-author of the study and co-director with the Center for Applied Research in Education and research scientist with the Center for Economic and Social Research, summarized, “Our data supports the interconnected nature of student needs; to improve academic outcomes, schools must also prioritize mental health and attendance.”

What can districts do to meet these interconnected needs? According to Gillian Chapman, former superintendent of Teton County School District #1 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, they can start by creating a positive climate of open communication and parent education and engagement. An integral part of the district’s most recent strategic plan was a focus on equity, which they put into action by placing family engagement coordinators and liaisons in every building. They also partnered with the Cook Center for Human Connection to offer mental health support to students, families, and staff.

For students, these resources include access to MyLifeIsWorthLiving, an animated series focused on youth suicide prevention. For teachers, there is professional development along with a monthly newsletter and access to curated online mental health resources. Support for families includes access to free personalized family coaching and on-demand parenting resources at ParentGuidance.org. Chapman says the district is dedicated to helping families develop self-advocacy strategies, and they chose these resources because they offer parents “high quality, affordable, anonymous, 24/7 assistance.”

Parents deserve all the help that schools can offer, because they are the first line of defense for absenteeism, mental health issues, and academic performance. Online resources boost equity by offering support to parents who:

• Don’t have insurance.
• Are waitlisted for the therapist they need.
• Need to drive long distances to see a therapist.
• Are working multiple jobs and can’t find time.

At the Cook Center, we’re committed to making mental health support accessible for families—whenever, wherever, and however they need it most. We do this through a range of resources offered on ParentGuidance.org, including on-demand courses, one-on-one parent coaching, and therapist Q&As.

We’ve seen the impact of these resources in districts all over the country. Silver Consolidated Schools in New Mexico, has been using ParentGuidance.org for two years. So far, the site has engaged more than 3,300 families. They recently conducted a successful campaign focused on the idea of spending less time online and more time in conversations with family and friends, or going outside for outdoor activities.

Since August 2024, more than 150,000 families throughout the state of Hawaii have interacted with mental health resources provided by ParentGuidance.org. These resources include videos, articles, and Q&A forums on mental health topics such as “Supporting Your Child with Anxiety” and “Building Stronger Connections with Your Child.” Offering information and guidance on a wide array of topics, in a wide variety of formats, available whenever parents have time, is a truly equitable solution to today’s twin crises of student mental health and chronic absenteeism.

As districts grapple with absenteeism and rising mental health concerns, equitable, flexible, and parent-focused solutions are no longer optional; they’re essential. Empowering families with accessible support is how we move from crisis to connection.

Anne Brown (anne.brown@cookcenter.org) has been the president and CEO of the Cook Center for Human Connection since its inception.