One of the biggest challenges schools face at the start of 2025 is the persistently high levels of student chronic absenteeism. The goal of this report is to elevate student engagement as an important indicator to combat chronic absenteeism and help young people thrive in school. 

By sharing insights on both students’ and parents’ perspectives on their learning experiences, the report aims to help focus the education conversation on how parents and educators can better understand student engagement, more accurately assess students’ engagement in school and ultimately help improve it.

The report defines four modes of student engagement and provides three recommendations. 

Recommendations

1. That state, district and school leaders regularly track students’ learning experiences to better understand the full picture of their engagement.
2. That state, district, and school leaders work alongside family facing organisations to help parents understand the importance of student engagement and what they can do to support it.
3. That educators – including state, districts and school leaders alongside teachers and other education personnel – find ways to maximise students’ opportunity to explore.