State Issues Warning About Chronic Absenteeism

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Students who miss 18 school days per year will be considered “chronically absent” according to the Tennessee Department of Education.

Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, the State will use a new accountability measure called the Chronically Out-of-School indicator.

This indicator places a larger emphasis on attendance when the district and schools are given performance scores.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10 percent or more of the days the student is enrolled for any reason, including excused absences and out-of-school suspensions. Students who miss 18 days for any reason will be reported as chronically absent on his or her attendance record.

The School Board is considering adding a policy with the above language to cover the new state mandate. The schools’ student absences records will be reflected in the district’s state report card.

The policy addition is scheduled to be heard on first reading at the Board’s June 19 meeting.