News Update

Chronic absenteeism jumps 10% in Fresno Unified during distance learning

As Fresno Unified looks to reopen schools, data shows thousands of more students have been chronically absent this year compared to last year, the Fresno Bee reports.

Data from Fresno Unified shows a 10% jump in chronic absenteeism since last year, reaching 22.8% this year. The majority of students who are missing class are from low-income families and in grade 6 or below.

“The reason we’re still seeing that is … not everyone had the technology,” Kristi Jackson, attendance coordinator for Fresno Unified, told The Bee. “They may have had a computer but no Wi-Fi. Quite a few students who missed school are because of the absence of technology.”