Indiana Sees Statewide Improvement in Student Attendance Rates
Data released by the Indiana Department of Education indicates a slight improvement in chronic absenteeism rates across the state, with a statewide average of 16.7% for the 2023 academic year. While the overall rate has improved by 1.1% compared to previous years, several urban districts in Lake County continue to face significant challenges in maintaining student attendance.
Chronic absenteeism is defined by the state as missing at least 10% of school days, which equates to approximately three and a half weeks of classes. In Lake County, the situation is particularly severe, with the Gary Community School Corporation reporting a staggering chronic absenteeism rate of 63.6%. This figure highlights the ongoing struggle these districts face in keeping students engaged in their education.
School attendance is critical to Indiana’s new A-F accountability grading system, which is set to be implemented next year. This system will evaluate attendance at key checkpoints, including grades 3, 4-8, 10, and 12. The State Board of Education is currently gathering feedback and is expected to review the new grading framework by the end of the year.
During a recent school board meeting in Gary, Superintendent Yvonne Stokes and Chief Academic Officer Cynthia Treadwell acknowledged the issue of absenteeism, though they did not reference the district’s alarming statistics or the latest state report. Stokes emphasized the importance of teaching students the value of attendance, stating, “At the end of the day, we need to teach our students to show up in our environment. Parents are our first teachers.”
Changes in state law, effective from 2025, will require districts to enhance truancy interventions, particularly for students in grades 7-12. Schools must report chronically absent students to the state and develop individualized attendance plans. Additionally, an attendance conference is mandated within ten instructional days following a student’s fifth absence.
In an effort to tackle absenteeism, Gary officials plan to adopt a restorative and problem-solving approach, focusing on underlying issues such as homelessness, bullying, and transportation challenges. The district has also initiated programs to increase parental involvement, including a new “Parent Power Hour”. This initiative offers parents strategies to support their children’s education, with sessions scheduled at various times to accommodate different schedules.
In the neighboring Lake Station district, Assistant Superintendent Christine Pepa reported an overall attendance rate of 91.4%. She highlighted the necessity of punctuality and consistent attendance for student success. Lake Station has partnered with local judicial authorities, including Judge Josh Matejczyk, to address truancy through a designated Truancy Court. Parents and students with attendance issues are required to attend court sessions aimed at discussing the importance of regular attendance and reviewing Indiana’s attendance laws.
Partnerships with organizations like Geminus provide additional support at the Truancy Court to help address the issues causing chronic absenteeism.
Statewide statistics reveal a marginal improvement in absenteeism among specific student demographics, with rates for Black students improving by 1.6%, Hispanic students by 1.2%, and those eligible for free or reduced-priced meals by 1.7%. Furthermore, nearly 800 schools have reported chronic absenteeism rates below 10%, a rise from approximately 700 schools the previous year. However, around 78 schools still have over 50% of their students classified as chronically absent. Notably, the highest absenteeism rates are observed in grades 9-12, with nearly one in three seniors missing significant amounts of school.
Officials stress that addressing chronic absenteeism is vital for ensuring students achieve foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education, remarked, “The data is clear: regular student attendance is vital to ensuring more students master foundational literacy and numeracy skills and graduate high school prepared for their next step.”
For more details on the latest attendance data and statistics, visit the Indiana Department of Education’s website at in.gov/doe.
