Chronic Absenteeism

April 19, 2019

As a candidate for president, Harris taking a softer stance on truancy than she did as a prosecutor

U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris championed tough-on-truancy laws while serving as San Francisco’s district attorney and California attorney general. Now she's taking heat for it on the campaign trail.

David Washburn

April 4, 2019

Better data helps San Diego schools more effectively address chronic absenteeism

Effective use of data can help schools do more of what works and less of what doesn’t, authors say.

Debbie Lieberman and Tia Anzellotti

February 10, 2019

Kamala Harris’s stance on truancy resurfaces as she launches presidential campaign

A 2010 video clip of California senator and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris advocating the prosecution of parents for their children's truancy has re-ignited controversy as schools statewide face greater scrutiny for their rates of chronic absenteeism.

David Washburn

January 31, 2019

Searchable database: Chronic absenteeism in California schools

Search EdSource's database to find the chronic absenteeism rate (the percentage of students who miss 10 percent or more of instructional days) for all California schools by grade level.

Daniel J. Willis

January 31, 2019

Chronic absenteeism in California schools up slightly, new data show

More than 1 in 10 students statewide were chronically absent from school in 2017-18. Rates for students in marginalized groups much higher than the state average.

David Washburn

January 15, 2019

Help EdSource shine a light on challenges in rural education

Our newsroom wants to tell the stories of students and their families in rural California who are suffering from high rates of chronic absenteeism, and help in the search for solutions.

David Washburn

December 6, 2018

Ratings in updated California School Dashboard target more districts for assistance

Two near indicators – chronic absenteeism and college/career readiness – debut and reemphasize the need to boost attendance of younger students and better prepare high schoolers for post-graduation.

John Fensterwald

November 28, 2018

California school districts to get ‘wake-up call’ with new absenteeism measures

At least 40 percent of California school districts and charter schools have rates of chronic absence in grades K-8 that are high or very high based on new performance measures that will be unveiled next month.

David Washburn

September 6, 2018

Chronic absenteeism pervasive in California and nationwide, report shows

Nearly 8 million students nationwide were chronically absent during the 2015-16 school year; California accounted for more than 760,000 of those children.