Policy Backgrounders

Student Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism

September 05, 2024

Trusted Insights for What’s Ahead™

For several decades, education leaders and stakeholders have targeted student truancy and the unfavorable outcomes associated with frequent unexcused absences. However, the impact of unexcused absences has recently raised alarm, particularly as schools attempt to recover student learning following disruptions from the pandemic. Chronic absenteeism – when a student is absent 10 percent of the school year or more for any reason – has become a significant challenge in schools across income levels and geographic regions. Leaders on all levels are pursuing interventions of varying degrees from legal to social service support to improve student attendance and overall wellbeing.

• Nearly 8 million students were chronically absent in 2019. This doubled to 16 million in 2022.
• Absenteeism rose across income levels. Rates nearly doubled from 10 percent to 19 percent in higher income districts and rose from 19 to 32 percent in lower income districts.
• Chronic absenteeism can lead to poor academic performance. Absenteeism can also predict whether students will drop out before graduation, which can lead to negative health outcomes and lower lifetime earnings.
• In 2024, 71 bills related to student attendance were introduced in 28 states by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers; 14 bills were enacted.