I appreciate the recent editorial highlighting the urgent problem of chronic absenteeism in Illinois schools (“Why are so many kids missing class?” Sept. 4). As the executive director of Chapin Hall, a research and policy institute that provides national leadership on what works to prevent and end youth homelessness, I want to underscore that chronic absenteeism is a symptom of a broader crisis that demands comprehensive, compassionate action.
In my recent op-ed for The Hechinger Report, I emphasize that youth homelessness is a hidden but persistent challenge affecting millions of students nationwide. Many young people experiencing homelessness face instability — couch surfing, moving between shelters or even sleeping outside — that disrupts their education, leading to absenteeism and a greater risk of dropping out. Our research shows the risk factors for homelessness overlap with those for school dropout. Youths without a high school diploma or GED face far greater risk of homelessness. Even if youths who have experienced homelessness make it to college, many struggle with housing insecurity. Without targeted support, these students remain at heightened risk of chronic adult homelessness, poverty and disconnection from opportunity.
The Tribune Editorial Board rightly calls for better data and accountability to address truancy, but punitive approaches — such as suspensions or legal consequences —often worsen the problem. Instead, schools should be safe havens. The new state task force should recommend universal screenings at the start of the year to identify students facing housing instability and invest in training staff to connect them to trauma-informed services, counseling and housing resources. While every school has a McKinney-Vento liaison funded by federal dollars, too often that support is reduced to only providing a bus pass.
Chronic absenteeism disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic and LGBTQ youths — groups already facing systemic inequities. Nearly half of Illinois public school students are Black or Hispanic (44.6%), rising to 81.5% in Chicago. Addressing absenteeism without addressing these disparities will perpetuate cycles of homelessness and educational failure.
We need policies that invest in prevention and early intervention, including community partners who provide evidence-based, federally reimbursable services to address poverty, trauma and housing instability. This requires collaboration across education, child welfare, housing and health systems to build a coordinated safety net. If Illinois is serious about ending chronic absenteeism and ensuring all students have a fair chance to succeed, they must commit to supporting the whole child — especially those experiencing homelessness — with dignity, equity and evidence-based interventions.
— Bryan Samuels, executive director, Chapin Hall
Barriers for children
The editorial board is right to call attention to the troubling rise in chronic absenteeism in schools across Illinois. But we must also recognize that for many students, absenteeism is not a matter of apathy — it’s about barriers. One of the most overlooked is clothing Insecurity: not having access to clean, weather-appropriate, properly fitting clothing.
Nationwide, 4 in 10 families are having difficulty covering basic needs such as food and housing, and in Chicago, many children are living in low-income and homeless situations and face this problem daily. Clothing is a basic human need, yet there are no government programs that provide it. Too many kids start school days without shoes that fit, coats warm enough for winter or clean outfits that meet school requirements. When children lack these basics, they are more likely to stay home to avoid bullying, stigma or the anxiety of simply not having what they need.
Educators, human and social service organizations, and agencies have understood this for years. They aren’t waiting for studies to confirm what they see: Providing essential items keeps kids in class. Even the National Education Association has spotlighted how much providing clothing, school supplies and hygiene items improves attendance and engagement.
Lack of access to clothing and supplies is a systems problem and requires a systems response. Cross-agency collaboration, especially with health and housing partners, is vital. When minds meet — across agencies and sectors — we can address Chicago’s most pressing challenges in measurable and impactful ways.
We’ve seen this collaboration in action at Cradles to Crayons (C2C). Last year alone, we distributed more than 329,000 packages of clothing and essentials across Chicagoland to 58 social service and civic organizations, nonprofits and agencies. Chicago Public Schools is one of our largest beneficiaries of school supplies. And 87% of our partners tell us that they wouldn’t be able to meet the needs of their families for free without our support.
This is what collaboration looks like in practice and why it matters. Research is valuable, but students deserve immediate action. If we’re serious about reducing absenteeism, we have to remove the barriers we can control.
— Dawn Melchiorre, executive director, Cradles to Crayons Chicago
Accessibility for all
Kudos to disability rights advocates, particularly Michele Lee, a CTA board member, for their leadership around accessibility and support of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“City sued for alleged ADA violations over inaccessible sidewalks, curb ramps,” Sept. 11). While the Tribune report focuses on the trials and tribulations of traversing Streeterville (Ald. Brian Hopkins, take note), it’s an important issue throughout Chicago neighborhoods. I’m a wheelchair user, and let me tell you: Traveling the sidewalks and rolling up and down curb ramps makes Six Flags’ Raging Bull ride seem docile.
People with disabilities need a voice. It’s estimated that more than 570,000 adults in Chicago have a disability. Challenges for the disabled are wide-ranging, and activities of daily living can be difficult. But like everyone else, going to work and appointments, shopping and socializing are essential. The ability to get from one place to another is a critical component for quality of life of the disabled.
The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities’ goal is to make Chicago a world-class accessible city. If you see or encounter a problem, give the office a call at 312-744-7050. They’ll welcome it.
And remember that accessibility benefits everyone by creating a more inclusive and functional city that recognizes and supports the full capabilities of all Chicagoans.
— Lindsay Resnick, Chicago
Kinship care benefits
As siblings, the two of us often reflect on our childhood, shaped by our family’s trials of grief and healing. Nearly 30 years ago, we faced the harsh realities of the foster care system. Amid the chaos, our mother emerged as a steadfast figure. Despite her mental health struggles, she tirelessly navigated the bureaucracy to secure our permanent guardianship with an aunt, ending our aimless drifting in long-term foster care.
Our mother’s and aunt’s determination not only brought us back together, but it also paved the way for a new understanding of kinship care in Illinois. Through our mother’s advocacy, we were moved from an abusive foster home into kinship legal guardianship, where we found lasting love and safety.
The significance of our aunt’s actions gained further weight when we reflect on Illinois’s passage of the Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act. This legislative triumph prioritizes placing children with their kin in the foster care system. The KIND Act represents a profound collaboration between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Department of Children and Family Services. The fact that these two entities could come together to craft such vital legislation is a beacon of hope.
Notably, the KIND Act was a bipartisan effort and ultimately passed unanimously, demonstrating that this issue transcends partisan divides and gains support regardless of political views.
The KIND Act not only recognizes the importance of keeping children within their extended familial networks but also provides critical support for relatives who step up to provide loving homes. With flexible standards for certifying caregivers and the provision of financial assistance, this legislation enables the true power of kinship care — a reality we learned firsthand as children yearning for the security and comfort of unconditional love.
As we work to implement policies that can benefit countless families like ours, we encourage kin to become certified caregivers and provide loving, permanent placements for their relatives drifting in long-term foster care. It’s an invitation to change narratives across Illinois and in other states, to inspire kin to embrace their roles as essential caregivers.
We recognize the fears that come with opening your home and heart to children in need, especially when they are family. However, this commitment can lead to healing for both children and fragile families affected by difficult circumstances. From experience, we know that love can surpass devastation, and healing can emerge even in challenging conditions.
— Debra Johnson, former deputy assistant secretary for external affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Robert Johnson, Iowa state representative, District 34
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