Rates of chronic absenteeism in California still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to a March fact sheet by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) that gives an overview of the topic.
Research suggests that chronic absence contributed to learning loss during the pandemic and the slow recovery that has taken place since.
In 2024–25, the statewide rate of chronic absence was 19 percent, down from 30 percent in 2021–22 but above 12 percent in 2018–19. Students with absences in 2024–25 missed an average of 13 days, however, the average chronically absent student missed 33 days, PPIC found.
For a student to be considered chronically absent, they must miss 10 percent or more of school days in an academic year (18 days). This pattern and absences in general have been linked to underachievement in classes.
“When students miss school in early grades, the pattern can continue into later years, with the negative academic effects accumulating over time. Frequent absences also may lead to delayed socioemotional development and to higher dropout rates,” according to the fact sheet. “Even when students have few absences themselves, chronic absenteeism among peers can hurt their academic performance, as it disrupts teaching practices and classroom dynamics.”
At 24 percent, high schoolers had the highest rates of chronic absenteeism in 2024–25, with the youngest learners, those in transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, at 23 percent (a major improvement from 40 percent in 2021–22).
In 2024–25, almost a third of Black, Native American and Pacific Islander students were chronically absent. Additionally, “nearly one-third of non-binary students were chronically absent in 2024–25, and the average student missed 20 days — much higher than male and female students, who shared similar rates that mirror the state average,” according to the fact sheet.
Foster youth and students experiencing homelessness had the highest rates of chronic absence at between 35-37 percent, and low-income and students with disabilities also had above average rates of missing school.
PPIC notes that recent immigration enforcement activities are increasing absences in California and beyond, especially among English learners and young students.
As California’s school funding system is based on attendance, local educational agencies lose revenue when students aren’t at school. “Estimates indicate that a switch to enrollment-based funding would alleviate that concern, but experts caution that the move could reduce district incentives to increase attendance,” PPIC explains. “California’s new Attendance Recovery program allows districts to offer supplemental instruction so students can make up absences and districts can recover funding.”
The fact sheet adds that evidence-based strategies will need to be implemented to address the issue.
