South Carolina committee examines chronic absenteeism and rural teacher turnover

The South Carolina House of Representatives convened on May 6, 2025, to address critical issues affecting education in the state, particularly focusing on teacher turnover and chronic absenteeism among students.

The meeting began with discussions surrounding teacher retention, highlighting a concerning trend where teachers tend to leave the profession at higher rates within their first five years. A member raised a question regarding turnover rates specifically in rural schools, seeking data to understand the extent of the issue. While no immediate statistics were available, the committee expressed a commitment to gather this information for future discussions.

The conversation then shifted to the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism in schools. A representative noted that this problem is prevalent not only in their district but across South Carolina. The committee had previously engaged high school students to discuss factors influencing attendance and was in the process of collecting feedback from parents. Although the results from these focus groups were still being analyzed, there was a clear interest in understanding parental perspectives on absenteeism.

The discussion revealed that students often feel less compelled to attend school if they believe they can catch up on missed work online, indicating a shift in attitudes towards traditional attendance. This trend is not unique to South Carolina, as it reflects a national challenge that many states are currently grappling with.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the importance of addressing teacher retention and student attendance as critical components of improving educational outcomes in South Carolina. The committee plans to follow up on the data regarding teacher turnover and the feedback from parents on absenteeism in future sessions.