Columbia, SC – Nearly one in four students in South Carolina are missing too much school, according to new data. This makes them chronically absent, which means they miss at least 18 days of school in a 180-day school year.
While this is a small improvement from last year, the number of chronically absent students is still almost double what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts say this is a major problem because students who miss too much school tend to fall behind in their learning.
For example, students who are chronically absent are half as likely to be on grade level in math compared to their classmates.
Why Are Students Missing School?
The Education Oversight Committee (EOC) has been studying this issue and has talked to students and parents to understand why so many kids are missing school. Some key reasons include:
- Safety concerns
- Mental health struggles
- Lack of awareness – many families don’t realize that missing just two days a month can make a student chronically absent
What’s Being Done About It?
To address this problem, South Carolina plans to launch a public awareness campaign to stress the importance of regular school attendance. The program will begin this summer in two or three school districts before expanding across the state.
The campaign will include tips for parents on how to help their children attend school regularly, even when they are struggling with mental health issues. The goal is to help students stay in school and keep up with their education.
As the next school year approaches, officials hope this effort will reduce absenteeism and help more students succeed in the classroom.
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