Soaring chronic absenteeism in California schools is at ‘pivotal moment’

As a new school year gets underway in California, districts are desperately trying to lure thousands of missing, tardy and truant students back to the classroom in what many view as a pivotal moment for education in California.

In 2021-22, 30% of students in California’s public schools were chronically absent, an all-time high and more than three times the pre-pandemic rate. Advocates fear that unless schools can reverse the trend, so many students will fall behind that they may never catch up.

“This is a crisis, and it’s not going to change until we do everything we can to get kids back in school 100%,” said Heather Hough, a Stanford professor and director of Policy Analysis for California Education. “What we all fear is that this will become the new normal.… It is hard to overstate the importance of this issue, and it is absolutely a pivotal moment.”

Before the pandemic, about 10% of students in California’s public schools missed at least 10% (or 18 days) in a school year, which the state defines as chronically absent. But COVID-related school closures, remote learning and quarantines have created a new habit for millions of families: optional, not mandatory, daily school attendance.

Please help put parents in charge of their child’s education by forwarding this article to other parents, family, friends and voters.

Other Articles

California parents propose making 'high-quality education' a constitutional right
Parents and advocates in California are pushing to make "high-quality education" a constitutional right for students statewide, arguing that the state's public schools have failed to provide that in recent years.
Read More
Here’s How Much CA Teachers Make Compared To Other States
Research by the National Education Association found California's teachers and professors had the highest average salaries in the U.S.
Read More
Santa Barbara teachers demand fair pay as negotiations with district loom
More than 150 community members turned out to demand the Santa Barbara Unified School District listen to teachers’ calls for fair pay during a school board meeting on Oct. 4, the Santa Barbara Independent reported.
Read More
Teaching humans, not machines 
“I’m constantly reading the room because I’m not teaching English — I’m teaching teenagers,” Cuny said. “I’m trying to teach teenagers how to master the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. So, I have to constantly check the room, check for feedback.”
Read More
Cursive handwriting to be taught in California schools
Children in first through sixth grade will now be required to learn cursive handwriting after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 446 into law on Oct. 13.
Read More
Reading With Rampage
The LA Rams took over Lucille J. Smith Elementary School for a pep rally to celebrate reading featuring Rams mascot, and author Rampage.
Read More
New CA Standards Humanize Teaching
California’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved long-awaited revised Standards for the Teaching Profession last month that emphasize culturally responsive teaching, social-emotional learning, and family engagement.
Read More
California Legislature again rejects bill to make kindergarten mandatory
Legislation to make kindergarten a requirement for all young students has failed again in the California Capitol.
Read More

Get latest news delivered daily!

We will send you breaking news right to your inbox

© 2024 educationopportunity.org, Privacy Policy | FPPC #1460602