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Berkeley County Schools reports improving attendance but warns chronic absence remains elevated
Summary
Attendance director Al Van Meter told the school board that chronic absence is improving from a high start to the year but remains above last year’s start; county-level strategies include 20‑day reporting, targeted school supports, truancy diversion and home visits.
Al Van Meter, Berkeley County Schools attendance director, told the school board on Monday that the district’s chronic absence rate began the year higher than last year but has improved in successive 20‑day reporting windows.
"If students don't show up regularly to school, investments in curriculum, instruction, and expanded learning opportunities are unlikely to make a difference," Van Meter said, framing the presentation with the stakes for instruction.
Van Meter said the county began the year with a 22.7% chronic absence rate compared with 17% at the same point last school year. He reported the rate had declined each 20‑day checkpoint to 21.7% in the most recent update and said average daily attendance has risen from 92.1% to 92.7% during the year. He cautioned the board that events early in the school year — including bomb and gun threats that kept some students home — contributed to the higher starting point.
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