Chronic absenteeism among California students rose sharply during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates increasing from about 12.1% in 2018-19 to 30% in 2021-22. The highest spikes occurred in districts facing greater economic hardship, illness and death, including a 46% peak in Los Angeles Unified in 2021-22. Local education leaders shifted messages to encourage attendance for mild symptoms and increased outreach to promote consistent school presence. Schools tracked attendance closely and prioritized positive, family-focused interventions—helping with transportation, encouragement and targeted support—to re-engage students and lower absenteeism from peak levels.
Adrian got off to a rocky start in fourth grade last year, missing school frequently, setting him down a path that, research suggests, would lead to academic struggles - and, in the long term, a less successful career and possibly worse health. But Loma Vista Elementary and the South Whittier School District were tracking Adrian's attendance and moved in quickly to provide positive attention and family help, an approach overwhelmingly favored by most experts.
Students across the nation have been missing a lot of school. In California the percentage of students chronically absent was on the rise before the COVID-19 pandemic - and then it soared, from 12.1% in 2018-19 to 30% in 2021-22. A student is considered chronically absent for missing 10% or more of a school year. The numbers were worse in school districts where more students already were struggling.
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