Years after COVID-19 disrupted American schooling, attendance issues persist across the U.S. Data from the 2022-23 school year reveals around 12 million students in 42 states and Washington, D.C., were chronically absent, missing at least 10% of the school year. In California, approximately 25% of students were chronically absent, with the Los Angeles Unified School District experiencing a higher rate of about 33%. Schools serving many low-income families, like those in L.A. Unified, face more severe attendance challenges. Although chronic absenteeism has improved from the previous year’s rate of 28.2%, it remains a concern.
