Regular attendance is one of the most important predictors of student success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw firsthand how inconsistent attendance undermined learning, lowered test scores, and set back student achievement across the country. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of scheduled school days or instructional hours during a grading period. In an 180-day school year, that’s 18 or more missed days. Across the United States, chronic absenteeism surged from 15% in 2018 to 28% in 2022. Although some states have recovered from pandemic-era highs, many remain above pre-pandemic levels — and Iowa is no exception.

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