Social workers help cut chronic absenteeism in Oceanside schools

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Oceanside Unified School District says it is making progress in bringing students back to class, and it credits a growing team of social workers for that success.

For the first time, the district has seven social workers working directly with families to address chronic absenteeism, a problem affecting schools nationwide.

Maria Al-Shamma, who joined Oceanside Unified two and a half years ago as its first school social worker, says many absences are tied to challenges outside the classroom.

“Sometimes a student has a mental health situation, there might be a lot of anxiety about coming to school, or the family struggles with transportation,” Al-Shamma said. “Right now, we’re finding that some families have concerns about safety in public because of immigration enforcement in the community.”

As part of her role, Al-Shamma makes home visits to students who have stopped attending classes. She says those visits can make a powerful impact.

“It’s just like holding out a hand for somebody and letting them know we care enough about you to come to where you are,” she said.

District data shows chronic absenteeism rates have dropped significantly since the program expanded. During the 2021-22 school year, about 35% of students were chronically absent. This year, that number is at 18%.

Parents say the support has made a difference. One mother described how Al-Shamma helped her daughter transition back to in-person classes after a lengthy illness.

“She was great at making sure I had every resource needed,” the parent said.

The district has 27 schools and at El Camino High School, social workers are based in the campus wellness center, where they make calls, run outreach campaigns and offer students space to de-stress. The center was funded by local nonprofits, while the hiring of seven social workers was a goal set by the board of education after the pandemic.

Al-Shamma says the program has improved the overall atmosphere at Oceanside schools.

“Families in the community are learning more about our services and understanding that if we come to their home, it’s for support,” she said. “We just want the best for our students and families here in Oceanside.”

The district says it plans to continue investing in social workers as part of its long-term strategy to keep absentee rates down.