It's a problem that has been steadily increasing in Colorado's public schools - chronic absenteeism.

According to state officials, nearly one-third of students are currently missing too much school, a significant increase since the pandemic began. This is a troubling trend that needs to be addressed immediately, before it causes irreparable damage to our students' education and future prospects.

When students are chronically absent, they miss out on valuable learning opportunities. In just a couple of days, a child can fall behind on multiple topics or lessons, and catching up can be a daunting task. As a result, research has shown that these students are more likely to struggle with reading, fail classes, and ultimately, drop out of school.

This issue has become even more urgent since Count Day, which took place in October. On that day, students must be present in school for the school to receive state funding. This means that every missed day for a student equals less money for their school and fewer resources for their education.

But what exactly qualifies as chronic absenteeism? According to experts, missing just 10% of school time can have detrimental effects.

In Colorado, chronic absenteeism equates to about two days a month or one day every other week. Over the course of a school year, this adds up to an entire month of missed learning. And for schools that only have four days per week, it becomes even easier for students to reach the 10% threshold.

But what exactly does it mean to be chronically absent?

Simply put, a student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% of school time, regardless of whether the absences are excused or unexcused. This measure is used to track disparities among different groups of students and is a red flag that indicates the need for additional support.

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Excused and unexcused absences have the same effect on a student's education. Whether a student is sick or simply skipping school, they are still missing out on valuable learning opportunities. This is why the state looks at both types of absences when tracking chronically absent students.

State law allows for schools to designate a student as "truant" if they have more than 10 unexcused absences in a year or four in a month.

However, this does not automatically mean that a student will be sent to truancy court. Schools are required to take steps to help the student and their family before resorting to legal action.