By State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond)
This year, the Interim Study Committee on Education, which I vice-chaired, focused on researching the issue of student chronic absenteeism and ways to address it.
Recently, the Indiana Department of Education released an Attendance Insights Dashboard, which is a great way for parents and community members to look at student attendance in their local school districts and get ahead of any issues.
The Attendance Insights Dashboard provides a summary of student attendance by corporation, school, grade, and date from school year 2022 through the most recently completed school year, with a specific focus on tracking chronic absenteeism and habitual truancy.
The dashboard defines habitual truancy as having at least 10 unexcused absences, and chronic absenteeism as being absent (excused or unexcused) at least 10% of the school year.
Missing too many days can have a significant impact on a student's academic trajectory and a host of other issues.
It will take parents, schools and teachers working together to solve the issue of chronic absenteeism. This dashboard will help local school districts become more transparent about the issue with other stakeholders of student success.
Constituents can reach out to me with any questions or concerns they may have by filling out a "Contact Me" form on the IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Raatz website or by phone at 800-382-9467.
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