Five years after COVID-19 caused many Georgia kids to start skipping school, absenteeism rates remain stubbornly high, with students scoring worse in core subjects like math and reading.
A special committee of the state House of Representatives is studying the issue ahead of next year’s legislative session with the goal of producing laws that can reverse the trend. The first presentations at the Georgia Capitol Tuesday indicated that many of the likely causes relate to poverty, although mental health also plays a role.
More than one in five students missed more than 15 days of school in 2024, nearly double the rate in 2019. The rate missing six to 15 days climbed to 42%, six points higher than in 2019. Among the reasons for absenteeism: asthma, diabetes, uncorrected vision, and overall fatigue.
One recommendation is for the state to enforce a law requiring the chief superior court judge in each county to form a multi-agency student attendance committee. The House Special Committee will meet two more times, with the next hearing scheduled for September 22 at the Capitol.
