Senate panel orders summer study on chronic absenteeism, cites 360,000 chronically absent students

The Senate Education and Youth Committee voted to create a study committee to examine chronic absenteeism across Georgia, after members described statewide rates and asked for an off-season review of causes and possible solutions.

A committee member identified as the Pro Tem asked the panel to consider forming a study group following passage of related legislation the previous day. He said the request was meant to allow more time over the summer “to address the questions and causes and concerns and also trying to fashion solutions.”

The Pro Tem cited state figures that he said mean 21.7% of Georgia students were chronically absent last school year and that the percentage corresponds to roughly 360,000 children. He clarified how chronic absenteeism is measured in the transcript: 10% of instructional days missing — about 18 days in a 180-day school year.

Committee members discussed variation among counties. The sponsor cited Wilkinson County as the state’s lowest chronic absenteeism rate (about 5.3%) and named higher-performing and lower-performing systems as possible case studies. Members asked the study group to look at local truancy programs, interventions that keep students in school while addressing absences, and whether existing committee structures are the appropriate vehicle for the work.

A motion was made and seconded to pass Senate Resolution 217 (the study request). The chair called the question and the committee approved the resolution by voice vote; the chair reported bipartisan support.

The study will convene over the summer to gather evidence and recommend whether the current absenteeism committee is the proper forum or if a different model is needed. Committee members asked staff to include district examples and to examine program designs that keep students engaged when they are identified as truant.