Getting Students to Show Up: Generational Differences in the Effect of Teachers on Black and White Student Absences.

This article examines the impact of teachers on student absences, with a focus on generational differences and the effect on Black and White students. The study reveals that Millennial teachers are more successful in reducing absences compared to Baby Boomer teachers, and this difference is more significant for Black students. The article explores various factors that may contribute to these disparities, such as variations in teacher quality, student-teacher relationships, and technological familiarity. The research, which utilizes administrative data from North Carolina, underscores the importance of considering teacher experience in the analysis. Recent studies indicate that Gen X and Millennial teachers are more effective in reducing student absences than Baby Boomer teachers. The research demonstrates that assignment to a Gen X teacher results in 0.18 fewer absences, while assignment to a Millennial teacher leads to 0.42 fewer absences. These generational discrepancies in teacher effectiveness are particularly notable for Black students, as Millennial teachers are more successful in reducing absences for this group compared to Baby Boomer teachers. However, the study also reveals that these improvements are primarily driven by White teachers. Overall, these findings offer a hopeful outlook regarding the impact of generational differences in teaching on student attendance. [Extracted from the article]