School Absence Monitoring (2009)
The annual National Health Interview Survey determined that nearly 4% of U.S. children missed 11 or
more days of school in 2007. An estimated 31% of children (aged 5-17 years) had no absence days due
to illness or injury. Asian children (45% with no absences) were least likely to miss school due to illness
or injury compared to black children (37%), white children (29%), or American Indian/Alaska Native
children (26%). Among Mexican American children, 39% were estimated to have no days absent due to
illness or injury. These estimates were based on household interviews with a sample of the U.S.
population.
(Bloom B, Cohen R, Freeman G. Vital and Health Statistics Series 10, No. 239. Hyattsville, MD: National
Center for Health Statistics; 2008.)
Comment: The 2006 survey estimated that 29.4% of all school children had no absent days due to injury
or illness, while 4.8% of children missed 11 or more days. --J.O.