Eliminating Chronic Absence

Chronic absence increased dramatically with the onset of the pandemic, rising from 15% in 2018 to 28% in 2022 nationwide. The persistently high percentage of students missing 18 or more days of school has everyone from parents, educators, and administrators to researchers, education nonprofits, and policymakers talking about both the causes of chronic absenteeism and the need for multifaceted approaches to alleviate it.

Community schools—along with other whole child approaches—have emerged as promising, research-based strategies to address barriers to attendance and help schools reengage students and bring them back to the classroom. What elements of the community schools strategy can your state learn from to reengage students, impact attendance, and impact learning? Watch this learning session to gain a deeper understanding of how states can combat chronic absence through community schools and related whole child approaches.

LPI and partners developed this webinar series to give policymakers and others a leg up on the 2025 legislative session with the most up-to-date research, tools, and examples of effective, evidence-based state policy approaches.

Speakers

• Michele L. Blatt, State Superintendent, West Virginia Department of Education
• Hedy Chang, Executive Director, Attendance Works
• Emily Germain, Researcher, Learning Policy Institute
• Laura E. Hernández, Senior Researcher, Learning Policy Institute
• Roby Chatterji, Senior Policy Advisor, Learning Policy Institute
• John Sena, Director of Legislative Education Study Committee, New Mexico Legislature

In addition to ECS, NASBE, and NCSL, this session was also brought to you in partnership with Attendance Works.