Northwestern Ontario students are skipping their classes.
Our region’s absenteeism rate is 21.6%, meaning students are missing 10% of the days they are expected in the classroom.
According to data collected in the 2013-14 school year, students in the Thunder Bay Region, from Kenora to Manitouwadge had the highest rates of persistent absenteeism in the province.
A recent study, Every School Day Counts: Persistent Absenteeism in Ontario, 2016, indicates students who miss an average of two days per month in elementary school stand a 60% chance of dropping out in grade nine, potentially impacting their opportunities for success in the future.
The region’s eight district school board’s are working together to address this problem through a new initiative called “I’m Here” that’s meant to engage students.
The northern boards include Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, Kenora Catholic District School Board, Lakehead District School Board, The Northwest Catholic District School Board, Rainy River District School Board, Superior-Greenstone District School Board, Superior North Catholic District School Board and the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.
