BY: CASEY SMITH-indiana Capital Chronicle

Fewer Hoosier students are missing large chunks of school, but chronic absenteeism rates still remain well above pre-pandemic levels, according to new data presented Wednesday to the State Board of Education.

Indiana’s chronic absenteeism rate dropped to 16.7% in the most recent 2024-25 school year — marking the third straight year of improvement.

The rate, which measures students missing at least 10% of school days in a single academic year, is down 1.1 percentage points from last year and more than four points since 2022, when it topped 21%.

“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,” Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said Wednesday. “Statewide chronic absenteeism rates continue to move in the right direction … but we know there is still more to be done.”

The Indiana Code specifically defines chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of instructional days in a school year for any reason, regardless of whether it is excused. That’s equal to about 18 absences per school year. Separately, “habitual truancy” is used to define students who miss 10 or more days without any excuse.

Jenner told board members that many chronically absent students are typically absent for more than a month, however.

“It’s not just that they hit the 18 days — it’s much beyond that,” she said.

John Keller, with the Indiana Department of Education, called the attendance numbers “a good sign” but additionally emphasized that “we have more work to do.”

Broad attendance improvements

Student absences have been on the rise since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indiana and across the nation. Chronic absenteeism surged during the pandemic, nearly doubling to peak at 21.1% in 2022, according to IDOE.

Rates have declined in recent years, though: 21.1% in 2022; 19.2% in 2023; and 17.8% in 2024.

The latest numbers show that during the 2024-25 academic year, chronic absenteeism fell across all grade levels. Nearly 800 schools reported rates under 10% in 2025 — up from fewer than 700 the year before, according to the new data.

But 78 schools still had more than half their students chronically absent, and rates remained highest among high schoolers.

Nearly one in three Indiana seniors — 31.6% — were chronically absent, compared with 23.1% of juniors and 20.6% of sophomores.

Attendance improved across demographics as well. Absenteeism among Black students dropped by 1.6 percentage points, and by 1.2 points among Hispanic students.

The chronic absenteeism rate for students receiving free or reduced-price meals similarly dropped by 1.7 percentage points. The share of English learners considered chronically absent also fell for the third consecutive year, this time down to 17.8%.

“We’re seeing the improvements … crossing all demographics, all types of students,” Keller said.

“There are some students whose absences can actually be measured in months and years, not just in a single school year, and that becomes a big challenge,” Keller continued.

IDOE’s data showed chronically absent third-graders had a 74% IREAD pass rate in 2025, compared to 89% of their peers who attended more regularly. In English and math proficiency, the gaps were more than 20 points.

“When you miss a month of school, that’s going to show up somewhere else, and where it’s showing up is in student outcomes,” Keller said. “Outcomes matter and are impacted, at least correlated to attendance.”

Indiana’s attendance laws

A new law, Senate Enrolled Act 482, took effect July 1 to level set attendance definitions in statute and standardize statewide reporting.

Even so, school districts still largely determine where absences fall within three official categories:

• Excused absences include illness with a note, funerals, religious observances, college visits, court appearances, and other reasons permitted by district policy. Schools set their own specific policies but must document these absences with appropriate verification, per IDOE guidelines.
• Unexcused absences include skipping school, family vacations not approved in advance, or failing to provide documentation for otherwise excusable reasons. These absences count toward truancy thresholds and may trigger attendance interventions.
• Exempt absences are those required or protected by state or federal law and do not count against a student’s attendance record. These include jury duty, election service, military obligations, foster care court proceedings, or serving as a legislative page. House Enrolled Act 1660, passed during the 2025 session, further excuses student absences for participation in educational events organized by Future Farmers of America or 4-H.

If a student is expected to miss at least 20 instructional days in a school year due to a medical condition or injury, Indiana law additionally requires the school to provide instruction — but only if a parent submits documentation from a licensed healthcare provider. Schools use that information to develop an educational plan for the student.

If a student has a documented disability, the team responsible for Individualized Education Programs – IEPs — determines how services should be provided during absences.

State statute requires superintendents or attendance officers to report a student who is habitually absent from school to the local prosecuting attorney. Prosecuting attorneys must then notify parents if an affidavit of habitual truancy is filed with their office.

The new law allows local prosecuting attorneys to hold “intervention meetings” with parents to help improve a student’s attendance before any legal action is taken, but they’re not required to do so.

A parent meeting also isn’t required for students with excused absences, and county prosecutors are not notified about a student’s absence if they are excused.

Until July 1, 2026, K-8 students also can’t be expelled “solely because the student is chronically absent or habitually truant.” After that date, however, students could be removed from school once again if they miss too many days of class.