Chronic Absenteeism Surges Above 40% in Some States

Chronic absenteeism has surged to over 40% in some states, with many students missing 15 or more days of school. Despite this, a new NPR/Ipsos poll reveals that parents do not yet see the urgency of the issue. Experts attribute the rise to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to norm erosion and a decrease in the perceived value of regular school attendance. Efforts to address the problem include outreach and identifying the reasons behind student absences.