Attendance improves but chronic absenteeism remains a concern, district report shows

Lincoln County Schools attendance director presented first‑semester attendance data to the board on Feb. 18 showing mixed trends: overall enrollment down roughly 50 students since October, 362 students listed as homeschooled and 57 using the HOPE scholarship program, but chronic absenteeism has improved from about 49% in 2021–22 to 31% this year.

“Since the 10 month report in October, we’re down about about 50 students,” the attendance director said when the countywide enrollment figure was presented. He also provided the homeschool and HOPE scholarship totals and said state policy changes have made HOPE scholarship access easier and more common during the school year.

Why it matters: The board and staff framed attendance as a core academic issue and a long‑term habit that affects student achievement and workforce readiness. Chronic absenteeism — measured as students present fewer than the expected days regardless of excuse — remains the district’s primary metric for concern.

Key figures and explanations

• Enrollment and program counts: Enrollment down about 50 students since the October 10‑month report; 362 homeschooled students; 57 students on HOPE scholarships (January figures).

• Chronic absenteeism: The director reported the county is at about 31% chronically absent this year, down from 49% in 2021–22. The district’s “no attendance issues” category grew from 16% to about 30% over the same period.

• Coding and exemptions: Chronic absenteeism is counted regardless of excused or unexcused status; the director said only two common exemptions are a bus failure to run and suspensions. He noted that district COVID attendance policies have largely relaxed since 2022–23 and current policy codes absences due to illness as excused but still counted for attendance percentages.

Interventions and outreach

The attendance director credited CSI staff, social workers and school teams for outreach, including home visits and daily personal calls to absent students and families. He said the district will use student‑produced attendance promotion videos on the Armstrong education channel and social platforms to encourage attendance, and that principals and CSI workers are following up individually with students in the “needs attention” range (90–95% attendance).

Board discussion

Board members asked about state proposals to require retention after 20 absences and discussed complications distinguishing chronic illness from avoidable absence. The attendance director said chronically ill accommodations exist (doctor documentation on file) and acknowledged the policy complexity when absences result from health needs versus patterns of nonattendance.

Ending

The director said the district will provide monthly attendance updates to the board and continue targeted outreach to students in the needs‑attention and chronically absent categories.