Reaching kindergarten parents key to fixing post-pandemic surge in absenteeism

Record-high chronic school absentee rates in California show little sign of returning to pre-pandemic levels anytime soon, and data shows that’s especially true for kindergarten students.

Chronic absenteeism surged to 40% among kindergarten students in the 2021-22 school year, said Hedy Nai-Lin Chang, founder and executive director of Attendance Works.

Initial numbers from the 2022-23 school year aren’t much better, according to Erica Peterson, the director of education and engagement for School Innovations & Achievement, a national firm that tracks attendance at 356 school districts in California. Numbers improved 2-3 points for most grade levels, but they didn’t budge for kindergarten students.

Enrollment in kindergarten has long lagged below other grades — due in part to its optional status in California. But enrollment among kindergartners and transitional kindergartners dropped most rapidly between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 school years: 9 points and 15 points respectively.

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