Indiana K-12 Absenteeism Rate Falls for Fourth Year

Indiana’s chronic absenteeism rate for K-12 students declined for the fourth consecutive year, marking a continued annual decrease in chronic absenteeism across the state’s schools.

The development

The change covers Indiana’s K-12 education system and represents the fourth straight year in which the chronic absenteeism rate has fallen.

Chronic absenteeism generally refers to students missing enough school days to meet the state’s definition of a chronic absence. The statewide rate, the number of students counted and the size of the year-to-year change are not stated here.

Why it matters

Regular attendance affects whether students are present for classroom instruction and school activities. A sustained decline in chronic absenteeism means the measure has moved downward each year for four consecutive years.

The trend alone does not identify why absenteeism declined or whether the change was the same in every Indiana school or community. It also does not show how Indiana compares with earlier years beyond the four-year decline described here.

What comes next

Indiana schools and education officials can use attendance figures to track whether the decline continues and to identify where additional attention may be needed. More detailed statewide data would show the rate, the number of students involved and differences among grade levels or school systems.