Georgia Dept of Education Stepping Up to Combat Absenteeism

The Georgia Department of Education is taking steps to combat the growing problem of chronic absenteeism in schools.

“Chronic absenteeism” refers to the number of students missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, divided by the number of students enrolled.

Georgia’s current chronic absenteeism rate is 20.7% — this is the 17th-best rate in the nation, but GaDOE is aiming to improve it further to ensure all students are fully accessing the instructional opportunities available to them.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods said as the State Board of Education continues to focus on academic recovery after the instructional disruptions of the pandemic, it’s essential that students attend school daily and access the full curriculum.

To that end, Woods said a key area of focus for the Department’s Office of Whole Child Supports is to ensure that all schools are equipped to reduce barriers to attendance and address issues that cause students and families to disengage from school.

On December 4, 2024, GaDOE’s Office of Whole Child Supports hosted an Attendance Summit for Georgia agencies and policymakers.

The purpose of the summit was to increase awareness and foster collaborative relationships in an effort to promote the next steps to reduce chronic absenteeism.

Attendance Works, a nationally recognized organization focused on promoting positive attendance practices, led the discussions, giving attendees opportunities to dig into the data and consider potential solutions.

The Office of Whole Child Supports plans to follow up with future work sessions and engagement with school partners to facilitate long-term changes.