Associations Between Social Determinants of Health, Chronic Absence From School, and Teacher Ratings of Parents' Engagement in Early Education.

This study investigates how four indicators of social determinants of health (SDOH)—parent education, poverty, material hardships, and child health problems—relate to chronic school absence and kindergarten teachers' ratings of parent engagement in Baltimore City Public Schools. Findings show that teachers rated parent engagement lower among families facing adverse SDOH and whose children were chronically absent, with chronic absence partially mediating the relationship between most SDOH indicators and teacher perceptions of engagement. Notably, child health problems were not significantly related to teacher ratings of parent engagement. The study highlights how chronic absence, influenced by social and economic factors, may shape teachers’ perceptions of parental involvement, suggesting that addressing SDOH and reducing chronic absence could improve parent engagement and educational equity.