Students who regularly attend school are more likely to succeed than their absent peers, and Lauderdale County officials are encouraging local children to prioritize their education by being in class and on time.
According to the American Association of Pediatrics, students with good attendance tend to perform better on tests, reach higher educational levels, and are more likely to feel they have control over their lives later on. Regular attendance is liked to better career outcomes, higher reading proficiency, increased chances of graduating and improved social skills.
In comparison, chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more school days, is associated with poor health indicators such as smoking and drug use later in life, as well as higher dropout rates and overall lower life expectancy. Students who have poor attendance are also approximately 3.5 times more likely to be arrested or enter the juvenile justice system.
Chronic absenteeism exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the number of students considered chronically absent remains elevated far beyond pre-COVID levels. For the 2018-2019 school year, Mississippi saw a chronic absenteeism rate of 13.1%, data from the Mississippi Department of Education show. When tracking resumed post-pandemic for the 2022-2023 school year, that number had risen to 23.9%.
As of the 2024-2025 school year, the most recent data available, 27.6% of Mississippi students were chronically absent.
The Mississippi Department of Education encourages communities throughout the state to recognize September as Attendance Awareness Month highlighting the importance of getting and keeping students in the classroom. Senate Bill 2103, which was passed by the State Legislature earlier this year, also takes measures to address chronic absenteeism by making changes to the state’s attendance laws.
“Students’ academic and career success hinges on being present and engaged in learning, and we must do all we can to identify and remove barriers to students attending school regularly,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “As the MDE gives guidance to districts regarding the updated attendance law, we encourage parents and community members to understand the changes as well.”
SB2103 limits the number of excused absences to five per semester, with parents able to excuse three of them. A doctor’s note or similar documentation will be needed for the remaining two. The legislation also requires schools contact parents or guardians after three unexcused absences and notify State Attendance Officers if a student has five or more unexcused absences.