News Summary
Arizona State Superintendent Tom Horne warns of alarming absenteeism rates among high school students, with over one in three students chronically absent. A recent report shows chronic absenteeism rates at 28.1% for grades 1-8 and 37% for grades 9-12. Despite a slight decrease since the previous year, the situation demands urgent attention, with calls for stricter attendance measures and increased parental involvement. Education officials, particularly in the Dysart Unified School District, emphasize the need for innovative solutions to combat this growing public health issue.
Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has raised concerns about what he describes as catastrophic levels of absenteeism among high school students in the state. A recent report from the Helios Education Foundation reveals alarmingly high chronic absentee rates among students, indicating that over one in three high school students, approximately 33%, were considered chronically absent in the 2023-2024 school year.
Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing nine absences in a semester or 18 absences in a school year, equates to about 10% of the school year. The report highlights a chronic absentee rate of 28.1% for students in grades 1-8 and 37% for grades 9-12 in Arizona, which has raised significant alarms among education officials. Although the rate has decreased from a peak of 42% in the 2021-2022 school year, the current figures are still concerning.
Horne praised the Dysart Unified School District for its success in combating absenteeism, reporting that only 9% of grades 1-8 and 8.69% of grades 9-12 were categorized as chronically absent—substantially lower than the statewide averages. In Arizona, students in grades K-8 who are absent for 18 days must repeat the grade, while high school students lacking attendance for nine days in a semester do not receive course credit.
Parental Involvement and COVID-19 Impact
Horne emphasizes the importance of parents in ensuring their children attend school regularly. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered parents’ attitudes toward school attendance, leading many to adopt a more lenient approach regarding their children’s absences. Horne believes that educating parents about the ramifications of chronic absenteeism may encourage them to prioritize school attendance for their children.
Under Arizona law, truancy is defined as an unexcused absence for at least one class period, particularly affecting children aged 6-16 who are not in attendance during school hours. The American Federation of Teachers connects chronic absenteeism with low academic performance, higher dropout rates, and negative effects on social relationships and community engagement. A study from the National Library of Medicine further supports the link between low educational achievement, poor health, and social repercussions.
Wider Trends and Solutions
The chronic absence rate in Arizona has dramatically increased from 14% in the 2018-2019 school year to 29% in the 2022-2023 school year. This trend is consistent across 40 other U.S. states and Washington D.C. In response to these concerning statistics, Horne has called for “radical efforts” to enact stricter attendance measures, which may include implementing serious consequences for students missing school.
Law enforcement has a role to play as well, with potential misdemeanor charges for parents who deliberately allow their children to be truant. The Dysart Unified School District has even involved local police to follow up on students demonstrating poor attendance.
Innovative District Solutions
Some districts have begun to explore innovative solutions, including financial incentives for attendance and personalized outreach to families to improve engagement and attendance rates. The conversation surrounding chronic absenteeism has shifted to frame it as a public health issue, recognizing its far-reaching impacts on children’s development and future opportunities.
Addressing absenteeism is critical not only for individual education outcomes but also for the overall health and well-being of students and the community. The challenge for Arizona’s education system now lies in executing effective strategies to combat this growing concern.
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Additional Resources
- Fox 10 Phoenix
- Wikipedia: Chronic Absenteeism
- AZ Central
- Google Search: Chronic Absenteeism
- KTAR News
- Google Scholar: Chronic Absenteeism
- NBC News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Absenteeism
- ABC 15 News
- Google News: Arizona Education
Author: STAFF HERE PHOENIX WRITER
The PHOENIX STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhoenix.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Phoenix, Maricopa County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Cactus League Spring Training, and Arizona State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and Visit Phoenix, plus leading businesses in technology and healthcare that power the local economy such as Intel and Banner Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERETucson.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Arizona's dynamic landscape.
