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Vermont’s Extreme Chronic Absentee Levels Lower than National Average

September 6, 2017

Barre, Vt. – Vermont’s levels of extreme chronic absentee are lowest in the nation, at 2%, compared to 8% nationally, according to data released on September 1, 2017 by Attendance Works and Everyone Graduates Center.

The data release coincides with the release of the report, Portraits of Change, which highlights that addressing chronic absence matters for student achievement. Chronic absence is typically defined as missing 10 percent of the school year. Chronic absence is associated with lower reading proficiency in the early grades, higher rates of failing middle school classes and increased risk of student dropout in high school.

“We can use data to identify where prevention and early intervention strategies are most needed to ensure student success in school,” said Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe.

The Vermont State Plan responding to the Every Student Succeeds Act addresses school improvement efforts to address chronic absence, including Rural and Low-Income School Program to meet the state’s goals of increased student academic achievement and closing the achievement gap.

Data from the report also showed that a majority of Vermont’s significant chronic absence is in schools located in cities.

Read the full press release about Chronic Absentee Data