School Refusal Resource for Educators

Each year, approximately 2–5% of children refuse to come to school due to anxiety or depression. Previously referred to as school phobia, school refusal includes kindergarten students with relatively mild separation anxiety and more severe cases where a student misses weeks or months of school because of debilitating anxiety or depression. Because of the serious long-term social and educational consequences associated with missing school, the problem needs to be addressed promptly and aggressively with a team approach that includes teachers, parents, administrators, support staff, and, in some cases, community agencies and physicians.