Georgia Senate Committee Addresses Declining Chronic Absenteeism Amid School Year Start

Georgia is addressing a significant rise in chronic absenteeism in schools that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. The Senate Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism, chaired by Senator John F. Kennedy, is exploring root causes and effective interventions, such as early personal contact with families rather than punitive measures, to improve attendance. Attendance rates dropped from about 9.5% pre-COVID to 26% during and after the pandemic, with the current rate at approximately 19.5%, the lowest since the pandemic but still concerning. State Superintendent Richard Woods emphasized that supportive, home-visit approaches are more successful than truancy punishment in encouraging attendance. Governor Kemp recently signed a law eliminating chronic absenteeism as grounds for student expulsion, reflecting a shift towards constructive solutions. The committee aims to produce recommendations for legislation that will further combat absenteeism and help students succeed academically.