Why It Matters
Indiana’s K-12 chronic absenteeism rate fell for a fourth consecutive year in 2026, reaching just below 15%. The Indiana Department of Education tracks attendance because chronic absenteeism is strongly associated with academic performance.
What Happened
The State Board of Education learned Wednesday that Indiana’s chronic absenteeism rate had continued to decline. A student is classified as chronically absent after missing at least 10% of the school year, whether those absences are excused or unexcused.
The statewide rate peaked at 21% in 2022, twice the pre-pandemic level. Although the overall figure has fallen, 30% of Indiana high school seniors missed at least 10% of school days during the 2025-26 school year.
Indiana Department of Education focus groups found that students most commonly described school as irrelevant when discussing poor attendance. Katie Jenner summarized that explanation by saying, “They didn’t see the value.”
Chronic absenteeism declined among Black, Hispanic and multi-racial students, English learners, and students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
State officials pointed to local attendance efforts. Springs Valley Community School Corporation reduced its chronic absenteeism rate from 21% in the 2024-25 school year to 1.7% last school year. Officials attributed the change to consistent communication with parents about attendance policies.
Lawrence County Independent Schools cut its rate from 31.4% to 16.3% over one year after using targeted outreach for students who repeatedly missed school.
Attendance also corresponded with differences in academic results. Last school year, 74% of chronically absent students passed the state IREAD exam, compared with a 90% pass rate among students who maintained good attendance. Just under 19% of chronically absent students earned proficient math scores, compared with 45% of students with good attendance. College-ready benchmarks were met by 21% of chronically absent students and 42% of their better-attending peers.
Ron Sandlin said the findings “underscores the critical work we’re doing around our diploma seals and rethinking high school.”
By the Numbers
2026 — year Indiana’s K-12 chronic absenteeism rate declined to just shy of 15%
Fourth consecutive year — duration of Indiana’s K-12 chronic absenteeism decline
10% — school-year absence threshold for chronic absenteeism
18 school days — equivalent of 10% of the school year
21% — Indiana K-12 chronic absenteeism rate in 2022
30% — share of seniors missing at least 10% of school days during the 2025-26 school year
1.7% — Springs Valley Community School Corporation’s chronic absenteeism rate last school year
16.3% — Lawrence County Independent Schools’ later absenteeism rate
Zoom Out
The Indiana figures show a statewide decline from the 2022 peak, but attendance problems remain concentrated among some student groups and high school seniors. The academic comparisons provided by the Department of Education show lower assessment and college-readiness results among students with chronic absences.
What’s Next
State officials urged school districts to record absences promptly, send reminder letters to families, and intervene before students reach the chronic absenteeism threshold.