HealthDay (10/21, Gotkine) reports a study found that “school disengagement (SD) rates were higher during the pandemic years, especially for children with mental health conditions (MHCs).” The researchers “examined temporal changes in SD and SD rates among children with MHCs in a representative sample of U.S. children aged 6 to 17 years from 2018 to 2022.” They found that “the rates of SD were higher during pandemic years versus 2018, especially for children with MHCs. Higher odds of SD were seen in 2020, 2021, and 2022 versus 2018; there were no differences between 2018. “Higher SD odds were observed in boys, those with overall health status lower than very good, those with special ed programs, those who repeated a grade, those with high rates of absenteeism, those who experienced food insecurity, those who had high residential mobility, and those from lone-parent/unmarried households.” The study was published in Pediatrics.
Related Links:
— “School Disengagement Increased During Pandemic Years,”Elana Gotkine, HealthDay , October 21, 2025