Schools are struggling to get chronic absenteeism to pre-pandemic levels, five years after it spiked during COVID-19.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing more than 10 percent of school days.

Pockets of hope can be seen around the country, as some school districts have managed to get a handle on it. But experts say it could still be a long road until national success is achieved.

During the height of the pandemic, national chronic absenteeism rates jumped to almost 30 percent from 15 percent, according to Attendance Works. Since then, chronic absenteeism has slowly declined but remains far from pre-pandemic levels.

While data is still emerging from the 2024-2025 school year, the 2023-2024 academic year saw chronic absenteeism rates of around 25 percent.

"I believe that states and schools and school district leaders are working very hard to curb their attendance rates, and I believe that it takes a lot longer to address some of these things. But that doesn't mean that we should throw in the towel,”........

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