This report presents information on the results of the Reasons for Chronic Absenteeism (RCA) Survey for secondary students. The data were collected directly from 5,790 chronically absent 6th-12th grade students in 8 states (CA, FL, IA, KY, ME, MI, MN, RI), 21 school districts, and 91 schools. The data were collected from October through December 2016. Participants were selected based upon having missed 10% or more of instructional days during the 2015/2016 school year. The students rated survey items on a 0-3 scale which represented the reasons that
they “never”, “rarely”, “sometimes”, or “usually” missed school. The percentage of students who rated items within each category as “sometimes” or “usually” (rating of 2 or 3) the reason for missing school are calculated. The report provides information about their perceptions of how often they miss school, common barriers to attendance experienced by secondary students, and ideas for improving attendance. The information provided by the survey may be used to inform a data-based problem-solving process that includes the development of evidence-based
interventions.