January 10 2024- Data from the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development reveals that most school districts in Alaska experienced a notable increase in chronic absenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The spike in absenteeism, defined as students missing an average of two or more days of school each month, has been slow to recover in the years following the pandemic. Alaska’s education commissioner, Deena Bishop, attributes the rise in absenteeism to the disruption of routines caused by the pandemic, leading to extended periods of remote learning. Bishop, expressing regret over the time spent in remote learning, highlights the lasting impact on students’ connections to their school communities and learning experiences. Chronic absenteeism, although a national issue, appears to be particularly significant in Alaska.
With nation’s highest rate of chronic absenteeism, Alaska school districts explore causes — and solutions
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