In a groundbreaking move, 14 states across the United States have pledged to cut chronic absenteeism rates in half over the next five years. This initiative comes in response to a recent call from a bipartisan coalition urging states to prioritize school attendance.
The participating states include Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Notably, some of these states have historically struggled with high rates of chronic absenteeism.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as students missing 10% or more of the school year. Each state will set its own baseline and goals, with some choosing to start from the 2021-2022 pandemic school year when absenteeism peaked, while others may opt for a more recent starting point.
The diverse group of states represents a mix of Republican and Democratic leadership, highlighting the bipartisan nature of this educational challenge. The initiative was launched in July by three organizations: Attendance Works, EdTrust, and the American Enterprise Institute.
Hedy Chang, director of Attendance Works, emphasized the importance of demonstrating success across various conditions to inspire other states to join the effort. Many of the participating states already have existing initiatives and staff dedicated to addressing absenteeism, giving them a head start in this new campaign.
For example, Colorado aims to reduce its chronic absenteeism rate to 17.8% by the 2026-27 school year, down from over 35% during the 2021-22 school year. Arkansas has already seen improvements, lowering its rate from 26% during the pandemic to around 22% in the 2022-23 school year.
Connecticut and Virginia have also made progress, with both states reducing their rates by several percentage points since the pandemic peak. Rhode Island, under the leadership of Governor Dan McKee, has implemented a comprehensive strategy that has garnered national attention.
Some states face greater challenges. New Mexico, for instance, managed to reduce its rate from 40.7% during the pandemic to 32.8% last school year but still has a significant way to go to reach the campaign's target.
Several participating states have recently passed laws aimed at improving school attendance. West Virginia now requires schools to contact families after just one absence, while Iowa mandates meetings between school staff and families of students at risk of chronic absenteeism.
EdTrust, one of the organizations behind the initiative, is advocating for supportive strategies such as building relationships with families, providing mental health support, and creating welcoming school environments. They caution against punitive measures like truancy court referrals or fines, which can alienate families rather than offer the support they need.
As this ambitious initiative unfolds, educators, policymakers, and families across the nation will be watching closely to see how these 14 states tackle the persistent challenge of chronic absenteeism in their schools.