California School District Cuts Absenteeism with Counseling Support
The Livingston Union School District in Merced County, California, has made significant strides in reducing chronic absenteeism and suspensions by investing in comprehensive school counseling. A recent study conducted by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools highlights the district’s innovative approach to supporting student well-being, particularly in the wake of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the 2023 academic year, chronic absenteeism within the district peaked at 18.3%. However, through targeted interventions and enhanced counseling services, this rate fell to 14.2% by spring 2024, surpassing the district’s goal of a 3% reduction. For context, California’s statewide chronic absenteeism rate was approximately 20% during the same period. Furthermore, Livingston Union successfully decreased its suspension rates from 3.4% to 2.8% between 2022 and 2023, while the state as a whole saw an increase in suspension rates.
Implementing a system of integrated academic and mental health support, the district’s counselors play a crucial role in identifying students in need. Alma Lopez, the lead school counselor, emphasized the importance of analyzing data to pinpoint students struggling academically or facing behavioral challenges. This proactive approach allows counselors to tailor interventions, such as group sessions focused on motivation or study skills, and to address logistical issues like transportation for those with chronic absences.
The study also revealed that comprehensive counseling has fostered a greater sense of belonging and well-being among students. In the 2019-2020 school year, around 80% of students reported high academic motivation and felt well-supported in their social-emotional learning. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, this level of support has remained relatively stable, with 20% of students indicating frequent sadness over the following two years.
One parent, Elizabeth Alvarez, shared her experience navigating her daughter’s anxiety during the transition from elementary to middle school. Having established a trusting relationship with the school counselor, Alvarez’s daughter benefited from a range of coping strategies, which have continued to be a source of support. “It’s been three years, and my daughter still has all of those handouts, some on the fridge, some in her bedroom,” Alvarez noted.
The ongoing support provided by trusted counselors has been linked to improved academic and mental health outcomes. According to EdResearch for Action, students with continuous access to counseling demonstrate better overall progress. The author of the UCLA study, Bishop, remarked on the significance of leadership stability within the district, stating, “What strikes me about Livingston is their leadership stability. In other case studies, there’s a lot of turnover.”
Unlike many schools across California, Livingston Union ensures that counselors meet with every student and their family during critical academic years, specifically in fourth and seventh grades. These meetings cover personal and academic challenges, while also providing lessons in career guidance and social-emotional learning. The counselors also serve as a vital resource for parents, connecting them to community services such as food banks and legal assistance.
Lopez, who has served as a counselor for 20 years, highlighted the importance of fostering long-lasting relationships with families. “The fact that we have these long-lasting relationships allows us to work closely with our families because they know us and they trust us,” she said, emphasizing the value of personal engagement.
Alvarez reflected on her own experiences as a first-generation college student in a rural area where many parents work long hours. She expressed appreciation for the guidance the counselors provide, which she lacked during her own education. During the pandemic, the Livingston Union School District adapted its services to include remote counseling and virtual opportunities for social interaction, ensuring that students continued to receive support during a time of heightened need.
Superintendent Andrés Zamora noted the evolving behavioral dynamics among students as a result of the pandemic. “To this day, we live some of that, and our counselors are taking the lead on how we support learning and are being very influential in how that affects classrooms,” he said.
The impact of early intervention during the pandemic is evident in the stories of individual students. Lopez recalled a student who had lost multiple family members, including his father, during this tumultuous period. Initially withdrawn, the student gradually began to engage through counseling, ultimately asking to continue their sessions after schools reopened. “The impact in his attendance, grades, and learning how to advocate for what he felt he needed was pretty remarkable to see,” Lopez remarked.
As the Livingston Union School District continues to lead the way in addressing chronic absenteeism and fostering student well-being, its model showcases the potential benefits of investing in comprehensive counseling services. This proactive stance not only supports students academically but also nurtures their emotional and social development, helping to pave the way for a healthier school environment.
