NY State Ed’s disappointing approach to increased chronic absenteeism in schools: Tracking will no longer be a priority

Over the years, criticism has been directed at the State Education Department and the state Board of Regents for moving away from promoting excellence, but the recent actions from SED have shocked many.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli recently raised concern about the significant increase in truancy in New York schools following the pandemic, and the alarmingly high rates that continue to persist.

Despite the concerning data presented by DiNapoli, SED’s response seems to be to conceal the information.

DiNapoli’s findings revealed that almost a third of students in New York are chronically truant, a sharp rise attributed to school closures and ineffective remote learning.

In the 2022-23 school year, the K-12 chronic absenteeism rate reached 29.1%, indicating that numerous students missed at least 10% of the school year consisting of 180 days.

Even more concerning is the fact that high school students had the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 34.1%, which was 7.6 points higher than elementary and middle school students.

In New York City, 34.8% of students were chronically absent in Fiscal Year 2024, a slight decrease from the previous year’s 36.2%.

Chronic absenteeism not only impacts a student’s learning but also puts them at risk of falling behind academically and potentially not graduating with the necessary knowledge and skills.

Additionally, chronic absenteeism is often a precursor to delinquency, substance abuse, and future challenges.

DiNapoli emphasizes the importance of reducing chronic absenteeism to address the learning loss experienced during the pandemic.

SED’s recommendations to schools include providing free school breakfast, increasing communication with parents, and implementing attendance incentives.

Furthermore, SED plans to stop reporting chronic absenteeism and instead introduce an “attendance indicator” in an attempt to address attendance issues before they reach chronic levels.

This change raises concerns about transparency and the ability to compare attendance data over time effectively.

As the Regents consider new high school graduation requirements that prioritize quantity over quality, it is evident that SED and the Regents prioritize interests other than educating New York’s students.

While SED and the Regents do not report to Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie wields considerable influence in decision-making.

Despite the lack of public criticism from the governor, Comptroller DiNapoli’s report sheds light on the ongoing neglect of New York’s children within the education system.

Ultimately, the elected leaders of New York are complicit in the systemic failure of the education system to prioritize the future of the state’s children.

This betrayal of New York’s youth is a disgrace that demands accountability.