More than one-third of Oregon's public school students were considered chronically absent during the 2024–25 school year, per a new report from the state department of education.
The big picture: Oregon ranks near the bottom of states when it comes to school attendance.
By the numbers: Roughly 33.5% of students missed more than 10% of school days last year (about 18 days), which the state defines as being "chronically absent" — only a small improvement from the 2023-24 school year.
Yes, but: The report highlighted one silver lining: Attendance among kindergartners grew nearly 4% year-over-year, making it the largest increase among all grade levels.
What we're watching: In a budget presentation last week, ODE included significant funding reductions for Every Day Matters, which is the state's primary program to help districts identify attendance barriers and promote student-specific solutions.
