Virginia sees drop in chronic absenteeism, state focuses on student recovery

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Chronic absenteeism, a long-standing issue in Virginia’s education system, is experiencing a decline, according to recent data from the Virginia Department of Education. The data illustrates a 16% drop this year compared to last year.

Chronic absenteei sm is when a student misses 10% or more of the school year, roughly equal to two or more days a month. Governor Glenn Youngkin addressed the improvement during a press conference held on Tuesday, Aug. 20, along with an update on Standards of Learning (SOL) testing.

“They’re not in school, they’re not going to catch up,” Youngkin said. “The results today reflect that effort mostly seen in a January to April time period.”

Governor Youngkin, who has been actively addressing educational challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed a significant decrease in chronic absenteeism rates. Chronic absenteeism is defined as students missing 10% or more of the school year.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, one in five students in grades third through eighth were reported to have missed 18 days or more, according to the recent data. Students who were chronically absent also scored lower on standardized testing, 19% lower in reading and 26% lower in math respectively.

The governor introduced the “All in VA” initiative last fall, which aims to mitigate learning loss through various strategies . The $418 million multi-year program includes high-intensity tutoring, extended school hours, summer school and specialized learning resources to support students in catching up. It is set to last until the 2025-2026 school year.

According to the department’s data, there has been a 16% reduction in chronic absenteeism statewide over the past school year. This represents a positive shift, with nearly 50,000 students now attending classes more regularly.

Detailed absenteeism statistics for each school division are expected to be released in the fall, providing further insight into the effectiveness of these interventions.

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