Did you know?

According to the most recent data available from the Ohio Department of Education, 29.6% of students attending public school districts in Montgomery County are chronically absent.

The highest chronic absenteeism rates are among our middle and high school students (30.7% — 38.7%), though there is a concerning rate of 29.7% of Kindergarteners chronically absent.

The rate of chronic absenteeism in districts with the highest percentage of students experiencing poverty is 41.8%.

Unfortunately, the trend across recent years shows that the percentage of students chronically absent remains on the rise.

What is CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM?

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of school days or more (1 day every other week). This incorporates all absences — excused, unexcused, and exclusionary discipline — and focuses on the academic consequences of lost instructional time.

Absenteeism cannot be solved by any one person, school, or agency — it is a community concern.

Students who are chronically absent miss at least one month of time in the classroom each school year. This is unacceptable for our students.

Why does EVERY DAY matter?

• Chronically absent students in Ohio are 65% less likely to meet the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.

• Chronically absent students in Ohio are 89% less likely to graduate on time from high school.

• If a school district has a chronic absence rate above 5%, it means there are dozens or hundreds of students who are at risk of falling behind academically.

CLICK HERE to see the latest data from the Ohio Department of Education.

A recent ARTICLE (August 2023; Associated Press) discusses chronic absenteeism on a national scale.