IES Predoctoral Program Seminar: Dr. Michael Gottfried

The University of Pennsylvania Predoctoral Training Program in Interdisciplinary Research Methods for Field-based Research in Education, sponsored by the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), welcomes Dr. Michael Gottfried to our weekly seminar series.

Narrowing the Scope: A Focus on Classrooms in Addressing Absenteeism
Presented by Dr. Michael Gottfried, Penn GSE

Teachers of color increase school success for students of color. Yet, little attention has been paid to school attendance behaviors also increase from same-race matches. To address this, our study used administrative data provided by a California high school district for the school years 2014-2018. We explored student absenteeism at the date and class period levels. Using this rich, longitudinal dataset, we employed grade, school, class period, student, and date fixed effects models to examine the association between teacher-student demographic match and student absenteeism. Demographic matches were associated fewer unexcused absences for Latinx students. The results also indicate that associations were strongest for Latinx students in 11th and 12th grades – the age group in K-12 that has the most individual agency when it comes to getting to school. Furthermore, we found no evidence of declines in excused absences, which reflect health.  

More information
The IES Predoctoral Program’s weekly seminar series connects program fellows and affiliates to scholars and practitioners who engage in educational research and the development of research methods.

Seminars are likely of interest to doctoral students and faculty. If you are interested in attending virtually, please email Melanie Bahti for Zoom information.