COLUMBUS, OHIO (WLIO) – Ohio looking to reduce the number of chronically absent students by half over the next five year. Governor Mike DeWine and the Director of Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Steve Dackin announced this past week that they want to reduce the 25.6% of students statewide who are considered chronically absent during the school year. That means a student is absent 10% of the year or more no matter what the reason. During the pandemic, the percentage of chronically absent students jumped to 30%. While the number has decreased over the past couple of years, state officials want the number to drastically fall. Among large urban school districts, Columbus City Schools has the highest percentage of students that are considered chronically absent at 55.4%.