This infographic from the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) offers 6 actionable, quick-to-read steps on how districts can improve student attendance and reduce the chronic absenteeism that jeopardizes student academic success.

According to the U.S. Department of Education , at least 10.1 million students were identified as chronically absent in the 2020-21 academic year. Chronic absence is typically defined as missing 10 percent or more of school for any reason and is one of the early warning indicators that help identify students, student groups, and schools in need of intervention and support. Left unaddressed, chronic absence can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by grade 3, achieving in middle school, and even graduating from high school.

The WEEAC’s partners at Attendance Works are national leaders in addressing chronic absences by illuminating how systemic issues are having a disproportionate impact on specific student groups. With this infographic, local, tribal, state, and federal educators and leaders can plan data-driven, team-based, multi-tiered solutions that involve families and partners and prioritize outreach and engagement with groups that have the highest rates of chronic absence and largest numbers of chronically absent students.