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Teacher warns Hamilton County graduation gains may mask chronic absenteeism and Edgenuity misuse
Summary
A Hamilton County teacher told the board that high graduation rates hide persistent chronic absenteeism and that heavy use of online credit-recovery platforms like Edgenuity is replacing classroom instruction for some students.
Trevor Fuller, a teacher who said he works in a Hamilton County classroom, told the board the district's rising graduation rate masks a deeper problem of chronic absenteeism and overreliance on online credit-recovery tools.
Fuller said teachers encounter students who missed weeks of class yet still graduate after completing coursework through programs such as Edgenuity. “Last year, I had a student who missed 55 days. That's 11 weeks of school,” Fuller said. He said the district now uses Edgenuity not only for credit recovery but as a primary instruction method for some students and that teachers report students use apps or AI to complete modules quickly.
Fuller asked the board to strengthen attendance policy and to return to classroom instruction where possible. He argued that lenient practices established during the pandemic and subsequent use of federal COVID funding changed expectations around graduation and lowered the barriers that once ensured consistent classroom learning.
Ending: Fuller asked the board to consult teachers on the ground and to consider policies that address chronic absenteeism and the integrity of graduation credentials rather than relying principally on online platforms.
