As schools across North Carolina grapple with academic recovery post-pandemic, one alarming trend continues to plague districts large and small: chronic absenteeism. Defined as missing 10% or more of school days in a year, nearly one-third (27%) of North Carolina’s students are considered chronically absent. Before the pandemic, about 16% of students were chronically absent. By the 2021-2022 school year, that number surged to 32%. In 2023, 27% represented over 500,000 students missing a significant amount of school. 

Being present matters — this trend has far-reaching consequences, from lowered academic achievement to increased dropout rates and life-long missed economic opportunity. The problem is not just one of education — it’s a crisis that impacts individual students, whole families, and entire communities. To address it effectively, we need to look beyond the classroom and tackle the underlying causes that can be addressed through trusting relationships. Wraparound services and integrated student supports (ISS) focus on the whole child/whole youth and are a hallmark of Communities In Schools, the largest provider of ISS in the state and nation. 

The ripple effects of absenteeism

Absenteeism doesn’t just harm individual students; it disrupts entire classrooms and ultimately, the economy. When a significant number of students miss school regularly, teachers are forced to slow down instruction or reteach material, impacting the progress of all students. Moreover, absenteeism is often linked with broader social issues, such as poverty, housing instability, and lack of access to healthcare. In communities already struggling with these challenges, chronic absenteeism can exacerbate the cycle of disadvantage, making it even harder for families and children to break free. 

For example, chronically absent students are more likely to drop out of high school, which is linked to significantly lower lifetime earning potential and poor outcomes, from poverty and diminished health to involvement in the criminal justice system. With nearly one-third of North Carolina’s students missing from classrooms, and 67% of jobs in our state projected to require highly skilled workers by 2030, our economy is at risk of long-term stagnation unless we act now to remove barriers to school attendance and engagement. 

Across North Carolina, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the issue of chronic absenteeism from 16% to 32%. Many students simply disengaged as schools closed, and, when schools reopened, they didn’t return. In places where economic recovery was already slow, the pandemic pushed more families into crisis, further fueling absenteeism. Meeting with students on front porches, connecting via text messages and emails, delivering meals and homework assignments — all to keep students linked with schools and teachers became a necessary response. Still, many students disengaged from the learning process altogether. 

A call for community-wide solutions

Research shows that being present matters. The earlier chronic absenteeism is addressed, the better the outcomes for students. What is needed is a support system that recognizes the barriers many students face and works to remove them. 

Chronic absenteeism is often a symptom of larger issues — poverty, housing instability, mental health challenges, and more. Policymakers can work to ensure that families have access to affordable housing, healthcare, and living wages. Community organizations such as Communities In Schools of North Carolina  play a vital role in providing in-school services and programs, mentorship, and other supports that keep students engaged.

Businesses can also be a part of the solution. For example, offering flexible work schedules for parents to attend school meetings or ensuring that employees have access to transportation can make a significant difference in a family’s ability to prioritize education.

Finally, we must destigmatize absenteeism. Instead of treating it as a failure on the part of the student or family, we need to approach it as an opportunity for intervention and support. When we shift our mindset from punishment to help, we open the door to real, lasting solutions.

Addressing chronic absenteeism is not just the responsibility of schools — it’s a shared responsibility for all of us. By coming together to remove the barriers that keep students from attending school, we can create a brighter, more equitable future for all. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that starts with ensuring they have the support they need to show up, learn, and thrive.