Chronic Absenteeism Declines in Baltimore Schools

In Baltimore City, a proposed bill aims to address chronic student absenteeism by allowing city agencies to collaborate with the school district to analyze attendance data from the 2023-24 school year. Councilman Mark Conway, who introduced the bill, emphasized the need to understand the underlying reasons for absences, including economic factors, parental involvement, and transportation issues. The current absenteeism rate has improved, dropping from 48% to 34% compared to the previous year. Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises noted that while chronic absenteeism is declining, a third of students still miss school regularly. The state classifies chronic absenteeism as missing 18 or more days per school year, indicating a persistent issue that requires long-term solutions. Efforts to engage families and reinforce the importance of attendance are ongoing as part of broader educational initiatives.