What's happened
NYC public schools have introduced school avoidance liaisons to address chronic absenteeism after data shows high no-show rates among students, including a large share of disabled learners. The role is unpaid and focuses on early family intervention, linking students with mental health and other services, with plans due by Sept. 30.
What's behind the headline?
- The move signals a shift toward family-centered interventions rather than purely in-school remediation.
- Critics warn unpaid roles may burden teachers and divert attention from teaching.
- Expect schools to pilot the program in several schools before broader rollout, with potential expansion if absenteeism remains high and mental health resources are stretched.
- Readers should watch whether liaisons deliver concrete improvements in attendance and academic outcomes, or whether the program becomes a rebranding exercise without substantive change.
How we got here
The initiative follows a 2024- class-action settlement and rising chronic absenteeism that has plagued NYC schools, along with declines in reading and math proficiency. The plan is part of a broader effort to curb absenteeism by replacing or augmenting traditional support structures.
Our analysis
New York Post reports that 33% of NYC students were chronically absent in 2024-25, with 43% of disabled students affected; DOE documents describe the liaison roles and the plan. Bloomberg notes districts statewide are restricting screen time and AI use to manage districts’ costs and engagement. The New York Post also highlights broader concerns about NYC public schools’ performance and the rebranding of the DOE as NYCPS.
Go deeper
- Will the school avoidance liaisons reduce chronic absenteeism in the coming term?
- How will the unpaid status affect teacher workload and retention?
- What metrics will determine if this program is working?
More on these topics
-
New York City - US State
New York is a state in the Northeastern United States. New York was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States. With more than 19 million residents in 2019, it is the fourth-most-populous state.
-
New York Post - Newspaper
The New York Post is a daily newspaper in New York City. The Post also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com and the entertainment site Decider.com. The modern version of the paper is published in tabloid format.
-
Education - Transmission of knowledge and skills
Education is the transmission of knowledge and skills and the development of character traits. Formal education happens in a complex institutional framework, like public schools. Non-formal education is also structured but occurs outside the formal schooling system, while informal education is unstructured learning through daily experiences. Formal and non-formal education are divided into levels that include early childhood education, primary education, secondary education, and tertiary education. Other classifications focus on the teaching method, like teacher-centered and student-centered education, and on the subject, like science education, language education, and physical education. The term "education" can also refer to the mental states and qualities of educated people and the academic field studying educational phenomena. The precise definition of education is disputed, and there are disagreements about what the aims of education are and to what extent education is different from indoctrination by fostering critical thinking. These disagreements affect how to identify, measure, and improve forms of education. Fundamentally, education socializes children into society by teaching...