National Analysis Shows Students Experiencing Chronic Absence Prior to Pandemic Likely to be Among the Hardest Hit by Learning Loss

More Than 8 Million Students Attend Schools with High or Extreme Levels of Chronic Absence

By Attendance Works and Everyone Graduates Center
February 2021

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, one out of 6 students (8 million) experienced some level of chronic absenteeism in the U.S., according to an analysis of the most recent federal data. Those with the most absences are also in the groups hardest hit during the pandemic by poor health, economic hardship and unequal access to schooling.

Released today, the Using Chronic Absence to Map Interrupted Schooling, Instructional Loss and Educational Inequity: Insights from School Year 2017-18 Data report by Attendance Works and the Everyone Graduates Center, shows how chronic absence data reported prior to the pandemic can help guide strategies to address the learning loss that has been further exacerbated by COVID-19.

While there is no national data for the current school year, Connecticut, which has been a leader in addressing chronic absence, is the first state to collect, analyze and publish data for the current school year. It has seen chronic absence jump from 17.2% to 35.2% for English-learners, and rise from 20.3% to 34.9% for students eligible for free meals. These metrics offer critical insights into which student groups, schools, and districts are likely to need additional support to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

Follow this link to access the report’s webpage, which includes an interactive map that makes it easy to see the districts and schools most affected by chronic absence.

Follow this link to read the full report.