While students have been back to in-person learning for about a year, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact attendance rates nationwide. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 72 percent of U.S. public schools reported an increase in chronic absenteeism among their students compared to the 2020-2021 school year.
To continue its effort to lower absenteeism rates among elementary school students, the Care Counts laundry program by Whirlpool brand continues to provide washers and dryers to selected schools across the country with high percentages of absenteeism rates. As a result, 84 percent of participating high-risk elementary school students enrolled in the program were reported by teachers to feel connected to their school during the 2021-2022 academic year.
With the support of long-time collaborator, Teach For America, the Care Counts laundry program works with participating schools to find ways to ensure children have access to clean clothes throughout the school year. Over the years, the program has contributed to decreases in chronic absenteeism, and increases in attendance rates, grades and engagement levels among participating at-risk students.
Now entering its eighth year, the Care Counts program has expanded its presence to five new states for the 2022-2023 school year: Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Virginia, Delaware and Hawaii. It will continue to work with schools that are participating in a second year of the program in five regions: Idaho, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
In analyzing the most recent data from the 2021-2022 school year, Whirlpool found that:
- Nearly 70 percent of participating high-risk elementary school students saw an increase in attendance.
- Participating high-risk elementary school students saw an average increase in attendance by 12 more days than the previous academic year.
- Nearly 60 percent of participating high-risk elementary school students decreased their level of chronic absenteeism while in the Care Counts laundry program, and 30 percent of participating high-risk students were no longer at risk for chronic absenteeism at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year.
“We’re proud to continue growing the Care Counts laundry program, particularly at a time when we’re seeing the detrimental impact the pandemic continues to have on the ability of our young students to attend school,” said Nelly Martinez, senior brand manager for Whirlpool brand. “We’re incredibly thankful for the school leaders and volunteers across the nation who are integral in keeping this program running, staying connected with students and their families, and providing more vulnerable people with access to clean clothes.”
“The impact of the washer and dryer is truly incredible,” said Krishna Barroso, principal at AVON Avenue School in Newark, N.J. “These two simple machines that most people take for granted provide essential access to clean clothes, which builds pride, confidence, and improves attendance for our students.”
