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More than a third of Clark County School District students were chronically absent from school during the 2022-2023 school year, according to the state Department of Education. That 38.3 percent is a slight improvement from the prior school year’s 40.6 percent, but it’s still much higher than the school district’s pre-pandemic chronic absenteeism rate of 21.9 percent.

Local organizations have been working together for a year to address the issue. And in September, the school district announced its “Every Day Matters” campaign. The nonprofits involved include the CHARISMA Lab at UNLV.

The truth is, school avoidance in teens is increasing. As a psychologist who primarily works with anxious teens and young adults, I know that it’s never too early to talk about school avoidance.  

Rob Lang, a renowned public policy expert in Southern Nevada, may have died in June 2021, but his legacy won’t soon be forgotten. You can drive around Las Vegas and see the fruits of his labor everywhere, from UNLV’s Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine to Allegiant Stadium — two projects on which Lang consulted. UNLV, where Lang was a longtime professor, is looking to raise some of the next “Rob Langs,” and the university has found its first of many.

Imagine this scenario: you're making dinner one night and your 4-year-old, who has just finished putting together a puzzle with their older sibling, looks up and asks, "Where do babies come from?"

Individuals of all ages can be anxious about needles, although this fear is particularly prevalent among children. Distraction tools, such as toys, can help reduce feelings of anxiety and pain among infants undergoing needle-based procedures. And now, new research finds that virtual reality (VR) devices may be an even more effective distraction aid, leading to greater positive outcomes.

“It started in sixth grade: First, it was a stomachache. Then it was problems with other kids.” That’s how a New York City mom (who requested anonymity) recalls the start of her daughter’s descent in what’s known among mental health professionals as “school refusal” — or “anxiety-based school absenteeism,” according to the country’s pioneering expert in the field, psychologist Christopher Kearney.

Well before the pandemic, Raymond Renshaw knew the danger of letting students get into the habit of avoiding school.