Since the epidemic began, more students in New Jersey have missed school on a regular basis.
The New Jersey schools with the greatest chronic absence rates for the 2022–2023 school year are shown below.
According to data from the New Jersey Department of Education for 2022–2023, students who miss at least 10% of the academic year are considered chronically absent, and the percentage in Garden State is getting close to 17%. In 2021–2022, it was more than 18%.
Prior to COVID forcing schools to close in 2020 and transition to remote learning, the percentage was less than 11%.
According to John Paul Simon, assistant director of NJ4S (NJ Statewide Student Support Services) Bergen Hub, one “symptom” of lower motivation following the epidemic is persistent absenteeism.
However, missing school does not necessarily indicate that there is a problem at home or that a kid has just decided not to learn that day.
“What else is preventing them from coming? Maybe they feel more secure at home. Maybe at home, they feel more secure,” Simon remarked.
More than just science and history classes, Simon claimed, pupils are losing out on regular opportunities for social growth at school, which is why the problem needs to be addressed.
Response of New Jersey to Absenteeism
The state Department of Education released a document on April 3rd that deals with chronic absence, particularly.
“The NJDOE operates with the researched-based understanding that positive school climate and culture can help prevent chronic absenteeism and foster regular student attendance,” the letter states. “When students feel safe, supported, and engaged, they are more likely to attend school consistently.”
Nationwide, chronic absenteeism is also rising, rising from 15% prior to the pandemic to 26% in the 2022–2023 academic year.