US Schools See Drop in Absenteeism with AI Use
In the state of New York, the Dunkirk City School District significantly reduced its chronic absenteeism rate within one year благодаря an artificial intelligence-supported attendance tracking system. In February 2025, more than 38% of students were classified as chronically absent, while after the implementation of the system, this rate declined to 20%. Officials stated that this improvement also positively affected students’ academic performance.
School administrators reported that they struggled to address the increasing absenteeism problem using traditional methods and therefore transitioned to an AI-based system. The new system not only collects attendance data but also analyzes absenteeism trends to identify risky situations at an early stage. Patterns are detected based on factors such as weather conditions, student behaviors, and types of excuses, providing guidance for administrators.
The system also offers an automated messaging feature that strengthens communication with parents. Every morning after attendance is recorded, text messages are sent to the parents of absent students, allowing them to respond instantly. Officials emphasized that this method reaches 40% to 50% of parents, making it significantly more effective than the previous robocall system.
Experts note that AI systems alone are not sufficient; however, when used effectively, they provide strong support for school administration. As seen in the Dunkirk case, combining data-driven early intervention with human-centered communication strategies can lead to significant success in combating chronic absenteeism.