During and following the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic absenteeism in schools across the United States emerged as a serious challenge for schools and students.
Defined as students missing 10% or more of school, chronic absenteeism has risen nationwide. In the 2022-2023 school year, 20 states reported that more than 30% of their students missed at least three weeks of school.
While a multitude of factors contribute to why a student may not be able to make it to school, being absent too often can contribute to reduced academic outcomes, as well as making it difficult for students to engage with their learning goals, peers, and supportive adults…