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Akron Public Schools trying to get a handle on chronic absenteeism

photo of Akron Public Schools headquarters
Akron Public Schools

Akron Public Schools has seen a rise of almost 40% in chronic absenteeism during the current school year. The district blames a combination of factors including illness, lack of transportation and students having trouble adjusting to in-person classes as the pandemic winds down.

Dan Rambler is the district’s director of student support services. He says they’ve seen the highest absentee rates among older students.

Dan Rambler
Factors driving absenteeism

“We have far more high school kids that are working than they have in the past and I appreciate from talking to kids and families, part of that is just due to the economic stress that is involved with families and their necessity to generate different income that they can use.”

Rambler says intervention teams work with all children who have missed more than 10 percent of the school year. He says the district has increased daily home visits to check in with these students.

Expertise: Plain culture including Amish and conservative Mennonites, intellectual disabilities, audio and print journalism, video storytelling, photography
Jay Shah was an associate producer for the “Sound of Ideas” until May 2024.