Elevated student attendance correlates with a decline in unlawful gun-related expulsions in Michigan public K-12 institutions, as indicated by research from the University of Michigan.

A recent investigation released in the Journal of School Violence, conducted by scholars at U-M’s Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, discovered that establishments with elevated attendance rates—where students participate in over 90% of school days—are less prone to expulsions due to firearm possession.

By scrutinizing data from more than 2,800 Michigan K-12 public institutions over four academic years (from 2018-19 to 2021-22), the study revealed that for each 1% rise in students maintaining good attendance, the likelihood of a firearm-related expulsion diminished by 3%.

According to federal statistics, firearms represent the primary cause of mortality among children and adolescents in the United States, and in 2022, the U.S. experienced 46 shootings at K-12 schools—more than any other year since 1999.

This study, spearheaded by Rebeccah Sokol, an assistant professor of social work at U-M, discovered that 77 of the over 2,800 schools analyzed expelled pupils for firearm possession during the four-year observation period.

“To mitigate gun violence in educational settings, we must first pinpoint chances to lower the likelihood of a student bringing a firearm into school,” remarked Sokol, who co-directs training and education at the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention.

“Regular attendance can encourage students to engage academically, socially, and emotionally—all of which can collectively lessen the chances of school violence and hazardous firearm behaviors.”

The research team considered various factors contributing to chronic absenteeism, encompassing individual, peer, and institutional conditions that combine to hinder school attendance or render it a low priority.

“The results offer a promising universal intervention strategy for curbing student firearm possession in schools and enhancing safety,” Sokol stated. “Preventing firearm injuries requires a multifaceted, holistic approach at all levels, and this is yet another resource we can incorporate to ensure the safety of school-aged youth.”

Authored by Kate Barnes, Office of the Vice President for Research