The lingering chronic absenteeism issue in American schools

Published January 16, 2024 at 7:03 AM EST

A masked student walks the hallway at Worthington Kilbourne High School in March 2021, as students came back to in-person learning with a mask mandate in place.

More than two years after most schools resumed in-person classes, absences are still skyrocketing.

One in four Ohio children are chronically absent from school. Even as concerns about COVID-19 have faded, attitudes about going to school every day have changed. One group recently called the no-show numbers a crisis.

We’re talking today about chronic absenteeism across the U.S. and the novel ways districts are trying to solve the problem.

Guests:

Alec MacGillis, senior reporter, ProPublica
Rep. Adam Bird, Chair, Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
Chad Aldis, vice president for Ohio policy, Fordham Institute
Liz Cohen, policy director, FutureEd, Georgetown University

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