Skip to main content
Empty desk in a science classroom

Chronic Absenteeism

Why are students missing school days? It is a question that has plagued our nation’s schools for decades but in post-pandemic years, the immediacy for an answer to the question has grown as the number of chronically absent students has risen.

Are students missing 10 percent or more of school days? Chronic absenteeism has an adverse effect on just about everyone. There is an obvious academic impact to students not attending class but those who are in class also miss out on hearing from a wider spectrum of perspectives and opinions. Unfortunately, both groups of students feel the social impact of students chronically missing school. Teachers are also faced with reworking lessons to repeat instruction for those who missed initial lessons.

Let’s take a look at how Cleveland Public Schools is addressing their chronic absenteeism by strengthening their parent partnerships.

Related Resources

Chairs Row on Floor

School-Wide Reform

Dropping Out is Hard to Do

Recent research shows that some high schools have much lower dropout rates than would be predicted based on the composition of their student bodies.
wide lens of a high school building

School-Wide Reform

School Profile: Justice High School

Learn how teachers at this once low-performing school dramatically improved academic performance by focusing on student attendance and literacy.

Partner Resources

Classroom at high school without people.

NEA Research Brief

Chronic Absenteeism

This brief identifies best practices aimed at reducing the problem of chronic absenteeism including what your data is really telling you.

image of the front of the us department of education building

U.S. Department of Education

Chronic Absenteeism in The Nation’s Schools

This data story highlights the national efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate chronic absenteeism so that all students have a better chance of reaching their full potential.