Student attendance is still all over the news, and we know that missing school isn’t just a simple issue—it’s really complex and has a lot of layers. There are tons of reasons why kids miss school, and depending on people’s perceptions, kids can end up being either forgotten or frowned-upon.
No matter what, one thing’s clear: they’re not in school. And as long as that’s the case, they’re missing out on learning, peer belonging, and getting the support they need. While we might not solve the root problems easily, we can definitely take on the absences right now. So why is talk of using telepresence solutions as absent as the kids themselves?
COVID-19 definitely showed us that kids can still stay connected to school during a health crisis, like when everything went online overnight during the lockdowns. Time for tech to talk back in class! We’re on it.
This Sunday, May 12, is both Mother’s Day and International Nurses Day. We extend our biggest thanks to all the mums and nurses out there – and especially those juggling both roles! We see your dedication, love and, often, exhaustion. There’s simply no way the keep the wheels of progress turning without you.
Let’s continue this will-of-the-people work, together, and shift the dial for kids who are doing everything to live their best lives in the face of complex conditions.
“The ability to access, afford, and effectively use digital services is not a luxury – it is a requirement for full participation in contemporary social, economic, and civic life.” Australian Digital Inclusion Index 2023
Tough Love on Absence
As recently reported in The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW Department of Education data reveals that public school students missed 9.06 million days in the first half of 2023, with over half of these due to sickness or misadventure. Indeed, these are startling figures, though we’re still confident that no one really knows. This is why MissingSchool’s policy achievement, and ongoing conversations with the Commonwealth Government on absence coding is so significant. More updates on this soon. READ OUR POSITION PIECE
Support Meeting Standards
In response to “What happens now to support the student’s education?”, we often hear, “The school provides work.” But we can’t expect a student, already doing it tough, to self-direct their learning and complete worksheets on their own. Head to the blog to hear what students, caught in the crosshairs of chronic conditions and absences, can access through the Disability Standards for Education, including our favourite, telepresence technology. Bring on the adjustments and individualised plans! READ MORE
Power to the People
Celebrating all the mums and nurses this Sunday, as Mother’s Day and International Nurses Day roll in!. Sundays also spotlights International ME/CFS Awareness Day, and we cheer for the kids with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome–and related illnesses–who are so brave. Sunday wraps up national Heart Week. With heart health on our minds, kudos to HeartKids who support young people affected by congenital or childhood-acquired heart disease like superstar Macy. READ MACY’S STORY
At MissingSchool, we believe in the power of community. Together, we can create environments where every child feels like they belong.
It would be impossible for us to stay the course without your incredible support. There are many ways to help:
- follow along and cheer us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
- share this newsletter with your family, friends, or colleagues so we can support more kids, and
- donate towards getting kids with complex conditions back into their classroom.
Every action moves us closer to the finish line: a world where every child is seen and heard at school. Where ‘learn from anywhere’ is universal.
Let’s keep connecting,
Megan
CEO & Cofounder
