A recent article in the New York Times discussed a problem that appears to be affecting school districts across the country – chronic student absenteeism. Generally defined as when a student misses more than 10 percent of the school year, or roughly 18 days, for any reason, the percentage of students who are chronically absent from school has increased significantly between 2019 and 2023. Because students who are chronically absent from school may also have more disciplinary problems when in school, it's important to understand that there are consequences that may go beyond problems keeping up with learning when a student is chronically absent.  

If your child is facing serious disciplinary consequences at school for any reason, whether or not it's related to their attendance record, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help. Our experienced attorneys understand the laws, rules, regulations, and school policies that apply in school disciplinary proceedings and will fight to protect your child's rights if they are facing serious school discipline. Call us today at 888.535.3686 or schedule a confidential consultation to learn more about how we can help.  

School Absenteeism Has Risen Across the Board 

According to the Times article, the rise in chronic absenteeism is affecting school districts across the country – in wealthy, middle-class, and poorer school districts; in large, medium, and small school districts; and no matter what the racial makeup of the school district may be. While the percentage of students who are chronically absent varies from one school district to another, in most cases, the percentage was significantly higher in 2023 than it was in 2019. Based on data gathered from 40 states and the District of Columbia, while roughly 15% of all students were chronically absent in 2019, by 2023, that percentage had increased to 26%.   

Consequences of Chronic Absenteeism 

The article discussed a number of consequences that flow from this apparent trend.  

• Learning Challenges. The most obvious problem is that students who miss a lot of school don't learn as well as students who attend regularly. But it goes beyond that; when those students return to the classroom, teachers are required to spend more time helping them catch up to the students who have been in class, which slows learning for everybody.  
• Social Challenges. Kids who are regularly absent lose contact with a cohesive social group that attending school regularly typically provides. As a result, they don't form the same bonds with classmates that they would if everybody attended on a more regular basis.  
• Disciplinary Challenges. Students who don't have close bonds with their classmates are more likely to act out at school and be disciplined as a result.  

While these aren't the only problems associated with chronic absenteeism, they are several of the more significant ones. Schools across the country are still trying to figure out how to reverse this disturbing trend.  

The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help 

If your child is facing disciplinary proceedings because of alleged misconduct while at school, contact the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team as soon as possible. Our experienced student defense attorneys have helped protect the rights of students at all levels in schools across the country and are here to help you defend your child when they've been accused of serious misconduct.  

Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team today at 888.535.3686, or schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced student defense attorneys to learn how we can help you protect your child's rights and future.