The Importance of Being in School: A report on absenteeism in the nation’s public schools

Chronic absenteeism means missing 10 percent of a school year for any reason. Great data gaps exist which inhibit addressing this issue, across the United States of America, it only exists in six states:  Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Nebraska, Oregon, and Rhode Island. These states report between 6 to 23 percent chronic absenteeism, with the highest rates in high poverty urban areas.

State and district policies need to encourage every student to attend school every day and support school districts, schools, nonprofits, communities, and parents in using evidence-based strategies to act upon these data to propel all students to attend school daily. Mayors and governors have critical roles to play in leading inter-agency task forces that bring health, housing, justice, transportation, and education agencies together to organize coordinated efforts to help every student attend every day.