US Schools Step Up Fight Against Chronic Absenteeism
Across the United States, states are introducing a range of initiatives to bring chronic absenteeism rates back down to pre-COVID levels. In Baltimore City Public Schools, Maryland, teachers are carrying out home visits to identify the issues preventing pupils from attending classes. In Virginia, a state-level task force is supporting paediatricians and school nurses in advising parents about the importance of regular attendance and clarifying when it is appropriate for children to remain at home.
In addition, many states are reinforcing attendance campaigns through accountability measures, additional funding, data-driven decision-making, and prioritisation at the governor’s level. According to Nat Malkus, an education policy expert at the American Enterprise Institute, chronic absenteeism declined from 28.5 per cent in 2022 to 23.5 per cent in 2024. However, he noted that the figure still remains well above the rates recorded in 2017 (13.4 per cent) and 2018 (15.2 per cent).
“This is a long-term challenge,” Malkus said. “For the sake of our educational and economic future, we must ensure consistent school attendance.”