Overview

Being in school every day is as important as ever before!

Chronic absence measures lost time from learning. It is defined as missing 10 percent or more of the total number of days enrolled during the school year. Just two days per month can lead to chronic absence. It includes both excused, unexcused, and out-of-school suspensions. For example, a student who has been enrolled for the first 30 school days at the beginning of the school year and has been absent three of those days is chronically absent.  If a student misses 18 days in 1 school year, you will be chronically absent.

Being chronically absent has a huge impact on a student’s ability to read at grade level, perform academically, and graduate on time. Good attendance can help children do well in school, and eventually in the workplace.

Learn more:

• Definition of Student Attendance, revised 9/7/2022, State Board of Education 
• EdSight Data Portal -- annual and monthly chronic absence reports for districts, schools, grade levels, and student groups. Find your local data.
• Learner Engagement and Attendance Program - Connecticut's own research-based, relational home visits, LEAP 101 training, evaluationand resources
  • The LEAP EffectTaking a Systemic Approach to Improving Attendance & Engagement,
• Reducing Chronic Absence in Connecticut's Schools, A Prevention and Intervention Guide for Schools and Districts
  • BRIGHT SPOTS: Improving High School Student Attendance in Connecticut
• School is Better with You! -- attendance awareness campaign, toolkit, and materials for famiies in multiple languages
• Talk Tuesdays - the place to connect about attendance, reoccurring virtual meetings about attendance and engagement