Student absenteeism and ecological agency

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to address student absenteeism through the theoretical lens of ecological agency and to encourage the use of ecological agency in a school setting to address student absenteeism more holistically. We align absenteeism research within the ecological agency framework and suggest that absenteeism is a manifestation of agency influenced by contextual factors unique to the student’s ecological context and reinforced through punishment. Observing absenteeism through the lens of ecological agency provides an alternative, unique viewpoint giving insight into the process of how students choose to engage in absenteeism based on their ecological factors. The article also intends to illustrate pragmatic use of viewing absenteeism through the lens of ecological agency by providing a sample of interventions that are used to resolve contextual factors and improve student attendance.