ALBANY, N.Y. – Senator Patricia Fahy (D–Albany) and Senator James Skoufis (D—Orange County) announced the introduction of three pieces of legislation aimed at combatting chronic absenteeism; one establishing a statewide student attendance and absenteeism dashboard (S.8526 Fahy/A.09181 Romero), another establishing new attendance review teams and creating a coordinated state response grounded in best practices and responsive to local needs (S.8132 Skoufis), and finally, one creating a pilot learner engagement and attendance program in certain school districts (S.8528 Fahy/A.09173 McDonald).

Collecting data on current absenteeism trends in real-time will allow school districts to understand where absenteeism is most severe, create opportunities for early intervention, and prevent lapses in up-to-date data. Chronic absenteeism, defined as students missing 10% or more of school, has only worsened since the pandemic. In the 2022-2023 school year, roughly one in three students in New York missed at least 10% of school days, equating to at least 18 days of school. For example, children who are chronically absent between preschool and second grade are far less likely to read on grade level by third grade.

Collecting data with frequent public updates will allow schools to identify trends in attendance, intervene, and strengthen accountability for student engagement. Policymakers and families alike will be able to track attendance challenges and progress toward equity goals. Absenteeism impacts student performance, wellbeing, literacy and graduation rates. Inconsistent attendance makes it difficult for a student to keep up with the pace of school and hinders students’ opportunities to remain active in their school communities both academically and socially.

Reducing chronic absenteeism rates requires collaboration from the state, school districts, and individual school communities, and this collaborative, preventive model aims to strengthen student engagement statewide. Chronic absenteeism has been linked to multiple factors, including transportation barriers, unmet health or mental health needs, caregiving responsibilities, and housing instability. Students from low-income families, students of color, and students with disabilities are just some of the groups more likely to experience chronic absence.

This legislation will place the responsibility on the commissioner of education to communicate data about absenteeism to the public, allowing for school districts and individual schools to use the pilot program to take action helping children dealing with chronic absence.

“As we continue to improve P-12 education and tackle youth violence, we cannot ignore chronic absenteeism. These bills are the first steps of many to reduce troubling chronic absenteeism rates across New York State,” said Senator Patricia Fahy (D–Albany). “The dashboard will provide school districts, policymakers, and parents with the information they need to develop action plans to assist students and families who are struggling and invest in programs that aim to provide meaningful opportunities to our young people. Collaborating and having accurate, up-to-date data will put the responsibility on all of us to prevent this problem from persisting and to ensure none of New York’s students slip between the cracks.”

“Chronic absenteeism is a crisis with long-term consequences for students and communities, one that has severely worsened since the pandemic,” said Senator James Skoufis (D–Orange County). “Taking a data-driven, comprehensive approach, schools and districts will get the support they need from our legislation to ensure every New York student has the chance to fulfill their potential.” 

“Chronic absenteeism has become a statewide crisis, with nearly one in three New York students missing at least ten percent of the school year,” said Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero (D, WFP-Albany, Guilderland, New Scotland). “Attendance data is too often inconsistent, delayed, or inaccessible, making it harder for schools to intervene when it matters most. By establishing a statewide attendance and absenteeism dashboard, my bill with Senator Fahy brings transparency and accountability to a system that urgently needs both. Together, this package of legislation creates a coordinated, data-driven approach to addressing absenteeism, pairing real-time insight with meaningful intervention. This creates a better framework for educators and families to support students, help prevent disengagement, and to foster equity in the communities where absenteeism is most severe.”

Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, RPh said, "Chronic absenteeism remains one of the biggest barriers to student learning in New York, with nearly one in three students missing at least 10 percent of school days. LEAP-NY is designed to move us from delayed, reactive responses to early, data-driven intervention. By pairing schools with family engagement staff and community partners, this pilot will help identify the root causes of absenteeism and connect families with support before problems escalate into public safety issues. Just as importantly, it will give the State Education Department the data needed to evaluate what works and build smarter, more effective attendance policies statewide.”

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