States try new measures to get chronically absent students back to class

States are taking bold steps to tackle chronic student absenteeism by introducing stricter monitoring, publicizing absence data, and offering new guidance to tackle the issue. They're also considering harsher penalties for parents and guardians of these students. This initiative is crucial because chronic absenteeism can lead to long-term academic and social challenges for students. By addressing this issue head-on, states aim to improve student engagement and overall educational outcomes.