Chronic absenteeism among students only slightly decreased during the 2022-2023 school year, complicating efforts to help students recover from learning loss that occurred during the pandemic, according to an analysis from Attendance Works released Thursday.
Data aggregated from 11 states shows chronic absenteeism only decreased 2.23 percentage points to 27.85 percent in the 2022-2023 school year compared to the prior year.
In the previous 2021-2022 year, the organization estimated chronic absenteeism in the 11 states was at 30.08 percent.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10 or more days of school during the academic year. Some studies show the phenomenon doubled over the past two years.
The high rates of chronic absenteeism have persisted so long that the White House has raised alarms on the issue, saying we need an “all-hands-an-deck approach.”
“A necessary step to ensure students benefit from all that schools have to offer is to support students’ consistent presence in the classroom—which is why the Biden-Harris Administration is focused on the issue of chronic absenteeism,” the White House said in September.
The administration has pointed to efforts it has made to address the issue such as funds given to states, support of mental health programs and working with the National Partnership for Student Success.