EDUCATION

How Police Activity and Violence Affect School Attendance

New York City, USAThu Jul 10 2025

Study Overview

  • Location: New York City
  • Time Frame: 2013 to 2019
  • Focus: Public school data
  • Key Metrics:
  • Arrests made by police
  • Reported violent crimes

Key Findings

Arrests Near Schools

  • Strong Predictor: Arrests near schools were significantly linked to student absences.
  • Disparities:
  • High Schools: More absences in schools with a high number of Black or low-income students.
  • Elementary and Middle Schools (K-8): Less pronounced effect.

Violent Crimes Near Schools

  • Smaller Effect: Violent crimes were linked to more absences in elementary and middle schools (K-8).
  • High Schools: Minimal impact on attendance.

Conclusion

  • Differential Impact: Police actions affect different student groups differently.
  • Need for Understanding: Emphasizes the importance of studying how policing impacts education, particularly for Black and low-income students.
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questions

    What specific mechanisms could explain why nearby arrests have a stronger association with absences in schools with greater numbers of Black students?
    How might the correlation between arrests and student absenteeism be influenced by factors other than policing, such as socioeconomic status or school resources?
    What additional data or variables could be included in future studies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing student absenteeism?

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