Chronic absenteeism falls across the US but remains above pre-pandemic levels: Can states close the gap?

Chronic absenteeism in U.S. schools is finally trending downwards, but it remains stubbornly above pre-pandemic levels, raising urgent questions about how states can sustain progress and close the gap. According to a K-12 Dive, while 2024 attendance data shows improvement from the peak crisis of 2022, the numbers reveal that the long road to recovery is far from over.

From crisis peak to slow recovery
The numbers tell the story. Nationally, chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, or about 18 days, stood at 23.5% in 2024, down from 28.5% in 2022. Yet, as K-12 Dive highlights, this is still far higher than the 13.4% in 2017 and 15.2% in 2018.

“This is a long-haul game,” warned Nat Malkus of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Speaking at an event hosted by Attendance Works, EdTrust, and AEI, Malkus noted that although “almost every district in the nation” saw attendance gains in the last two years, the pace has been slower than the education community hoped.

Sixteen states and Washington, D.C., have pledged to cut chronic absenteeism by half within five years. It’s an ambitious target that signals urgency, but also underscores just how much ground has been lost since COVID-19 disrupted schooling.

States experiment with solutions

Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, and Ohio are among the states experimenting with multi-layered strategies to rebuild attendance habits.

• Ohio: Once at a high of 30% absenteeism in 2021-22, the state has now reduced the rate to 25.6%, according to Stephen Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. He credits a multi-tiered system of supports, integrating academic and behavioral data into interventions: “That is a game-changer, if we do it well in Ohio,” he said, according to K-12 Dive.
• Virginia: Chronic absenteeism peaked at 20.1% in 2021-22, falling to 15.7% by spring 2024, said state superintendent Emily Anne Gullickson. The state launched the ALL Initiative — Attendance, Literacy and Learning, and built absenteeism into its school accountability system. Gullickson stressed Virginia is studying model programs to scale best practices.
• Connecticut: The absenteeism rate hit 23% in 2021-22, but now stands at 17.2%. The state board of education has set a bold target of 6% by 2028, according to commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker. Monthly, disaggregated attendance data helps the state intervene quickly. Programs like LEAP — Learner, Engagement and Attendance Program, which include home visits, have shown striking results: attendance improved by 10 percentage points for K-8 students and nearly 16 points for high schoolers within six months of the first visit, according to K-12 Dive.
• Maryland (Baltimore City Public Schools): According to K-12 Dive, CEO Sonja Brookins Santelises emphasized relationship-building, noting, “It’s a lot easier to have pointed conversations with a family when you are in a relationship.” The district, which saw absenteeism nearly double during the pandemic, has leaned on targeted interventions and partnerships with community organizations to reach the hardest-hit student groups.

A collective challenge
For all the progress, education leaders acknowledge the stakes remain high. Chronic absenteeism isn’t just about missing classes; it’s about learning loss, widening inequities, and long-term economic costs. As K-12 Dive reports, policymakers see attendance as a fundamental driver of academic and workforce readiness.

Russell-Tucker called it an “all hands on deck” moment, while Malkus underscored that the recent declines prove “progress on this front is doable, and that the goals are achievable.”

The question ahead
The central question, however, persists: Can states sustain this fragile progress and bring absenteeism back to pre-pandemic lows?

Attendance interventions are working in pockets, from home visits to accountability incentives. But the national challenge is scale. Success will hinge on whether states can turn pilot programs into systemic practice, and whether schools can rebuild not just attendance, but trust with families.

For now, the data suggests hope tempered with caution. The curve is bending, but not nearly fast enough.