Hoover InstitutionStanford University
School Absenteeism: Missed Days & Missed Opportunities

Published October 22, 2025

One in four U.S. public-school students is now chronically absent, missing at least ten percent of the school year. This surge in school absenteeism widens learning gaps, limits opportunity, and weakens civic readiness. Confronting the problem requires targeted action—tracking attendance data in real time, diagnosing local causes, engaging parents, and restoring community norms around daily attendance. Each missed day compounds into missed skills and missed opportunities. Reversing this trend is vital to preparing the next generation to sustain America’s prosperity and civic life.

Check out more from Thomas Dee:

  • Read "School Absenteeism Remains Stubbornly High in US: 1 in 4 Chronically Absent" by Thomas Dee here.
  • Read "Understanding the Promise and Reality of Continuous Improvement in US Public Schools" by Thomas Dee here.
  • Read "Learning from the Past: School Accountability before ESSA" by Thomas Dee here.

Learn more about Thomas Dee here.

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The opinions expressed in this video are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University.

© 2025 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.

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Thomas Dee

Thomas Dee

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