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School absenteeism is trending in the wrong direction. For the second year in a row, the rate of chronic absenteeism – kids who are absent more than 10% of the time – has increased. In the 2023-24 school year, chronic absenteeism grew to almost 25%, up nearly three percentage points from the year prior. BESE President Ronnie Morris says one factor that’s likely contributing to the problem is the fact that many students can’t read at grade level.
“If you’re a middle school student or high school student and you don’t read very well, what’s your incentive to go to school? You don’t feel like you’re part of the conversation, you don’t understand what’s going on,” Morris said.
Morris says another factor is kids skipping school for no valid reason, and that’s a huge problem across the state.
“The statewide average for truancy in Louisiana is 45%. So, half the kids in the state have a truancy problem,” Morris explained.
Morris says solutions include making school fun again, including opportunities for kids to do hands-on activities such as robotics and music. Another idea is to open up internship opportunities to high school kids.
“This gives high school students that real-world experience while they’re still in high school and also gives employers some insight on what’s coming their way after graduation,” Morris said.
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