Persistent Absenteeism Plagues Schools Despite Pandemic Recovery Efforts

Two-thirds of schools in the United States are grappling with high levels of chronic absenteeism, with no signs of significant improvement in the coming year, according to a report. Prior to the pandemic, 25% of schools experienced high levels of absenteeism, but that number more than doubled to 66% during the first year of full in-person learning. The surge in absenteeism has serious implications for teaching and learning, as teachers struggle to help students catch up on missed lessons while keeping others on track. The spike in absenteeism is also linked to drops in student test scores. The reasons for high absenteeism are complex and include factors such as students finding jobs during the pandemic, mental health issues, and the loss of parents or grandparents due to COVID-19. Experts emphasize the need for a systemic approach and root cause analysis to address the problem.