From Indiana House Republicans:
New data shows Indiana’s chronic absenteeism rate has improved for the third year in a row, including year-over-year for all grade levels and student populations.
The state defines chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of school days, or about three and a half weeks. While Indiana continues to see improvement in this area, school absenteeism among Hoosier students remains higher than it was before the pandemic. “We still have work to do,” Indiana Representative Dave Hall stated.
“This year, I supported Senate Enrolled Act 482 to clearly define chronic absenteeism in Indiana Code and have the Indiana Department of Education create a list of best practices to reduce truancy. The new law also enhances family engagement and prioritizes intervention over punishment by prohibiting schools from expelling or suspending students just for attendance issues.”
“Our highest absenteeism rate is among high schoolers, with nearly 1 in 3 seniors being chronically truant. That’s one reason why House Republicans led efforts to redesign Indiana’s high school diploma requirements, so school is more relevant to more students whether they attend college, enter the workforce or enlist in the military after graduation.”
Lawmakers will continue working to reduce chronic absenteeism and ensure students can get the most out of their education.
Click here to view attendance data for schools and corporations.