The 2022 Illinois school report card shows an increase in chronic absenteeism among students. Although students resumed full in-person learning last year, there was a two percent drop in attendance rates. Additionally, State Schools Superintendent Carmen Ayala says 30 percent of students missed around 17 days or more.
“There are many factors that may have contributed to higher chronic absenteeism and lower student attendance, including COVID, intermittent remote learning, social emotional and mental health struggles, as well as school districts having difficulty coding remote versus absent students.”
Minority students were more likely to frequently miss school. Ayala says the state board of education is already working to address the problem through truancy intervention, counseling and home visits.
***Courtesy of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services***
