LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio —
School is back in session but not all students may be showing up to class.
Chronic absenteeism has been a problem throughout the state that only got worse in the years following the pandemic.
Local school districts are working to reduce chronic absenteeism through incentives and support programs.
In Ohio, chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year. Ryan Eldridge, an attendance specialist with Washington Local Schools, said this equates to 16 to 18 days of school.
According to the Ohio Department of Education, 27.1% of students in Lucas County were chronically absent in 2023. This is a decrease from 32.4% in 2022.
Chronic absenteeism numbers increased in 2021 and 2022, but there was an overall decrease in 2023.
Missing school can lead to students being behind in classes.
"You start to stress and you feel stressed because of being behind," Eldridge said. "We've all been behind in different things and we know what that equates to as that continues."
Eldridge said a study from Attendance Works found that only 17% of students who were chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade were able to read proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% who had good attendance.
Toledo Public Schools executive director of community engagement and student support, Heather Baker, said chronic absenteeism can stem from transportation issues, health issues or even homelessness.
"If I don't know where I'm going to be sleeping or what I'm going to be eating today, school is not necessarily the focus," Baker said.
This is why school districts have started support programs for families and children. Baker said these programs can help remove any barriers that are stopping kids from attending class.
TPS has a truancy program called Get Connected, which has six attendance champions that go out and connect with students who may not be in school.
"They are not truancy officers," Baker said. "They are people from the community that want to engage with the families to remove those barriers to attendance."
WLS has a program that brings families resources they need, and Eldridge said this year they are stepping in earlier.
"Being proactive, coming up with those and working with families on support plans, working to see how we can help, and support in moving that time frame up is a big factor there," Eldridge said. "We've actually cut it by half to really meet with kids before they're getting chronic absenteeism now."
Schools are also offering incentives for students who have good or improved attendance throughout the school year.
Baker said TPS offers drones, earbuds and has partnerships with sports teams for different items. Baker said this year the district is offering incentives from the Toledo Mud Hens and Walleye.
Eldridge said there is a panel of WLS students that will determine what incentives they would want to be offered for good attendance.
Baker and Eldridge said these programs are helping, but there is still work to be done.
"How can we help?" Baker said. "That's what we want to do. We want to help."