Around one-third of Arizona students skip school: Find out how schools are fighting back!

In Arizona, chronic absenteeism has reached alarming levels, with nearly one-third of students missing 18 or more days of school during the 2022-2023 academic year. Recent figures presented by the Helios Education Foundation show that 29% of children in grades one through eight were absent for at least 18 days, highlighting a significant problem in the state’s education system. While this figure represents a decrease from the peak of 34% in 2021, it is still more than double the pre-pandemic absenteeism rate, raising concerns among education officials about the long-term effects on students' academic futures.
The issue of chronic absenteeism has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and educators warn that its consequences extend beyond just missing school days. Paul Perrault from the Helios Education Foundation emphasized that students who are frequently absent struggle academically, particularly in subjects like math and English, which can make it harder for them to succeed later in their education. As quoted by Fox 10 Phoenix, Perrault stated, "Students that are chronically absent tend to have lower math scores and English scores, so making it more difficult for them to do well in school."
The growing absenteeism problem
Data collected by Helios and shared with the state Board of Education on February 24, 2025, revealed that the chronic absenteeism rate among Arizona students has been steadily climbing, especially since the pandemic disrupted traditional learning. Dr. Jaqui Clay, a board member, noted that factors such as bullying, mental health struggles, and children needing to stay home to care for siblings have contributed to the high rates of absenteeism. She explained, as reported by Fox 10 Phoenix, that "students have told me that one of the biggest reasons students don’t come to school is because of bullying and behavioral and mental health issues."
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne, called for radical measures to address this issue, proposing stricter attendance policies, including requiring students to fail courses after nine unexcused absences. "If schools would adopt those kinds of policies, we would see the parents motivated and a radical drop in absenteeism," Horne said, as quoted by AZ Family. However, many educators, such as Kyrene De Los Cerritos principal Mark Eley, have expressed concerns about taking a punitive approach, advocating instead for a more collaborative approach involving parents, teachers, and students.
New initiatives to combat absenteeism
In response to the growing problem, several Arizona school districts, including Kyrene, are taking proactive steps to address chronic absenteeism. The Kyrene district has established a task force consisting of teachers and staff to better understand the root causes of absenteeism and develop solutions. Principal Eley stated, as quoted by AZ Family, "We want to make sure parents are aware of the impact of absences and the cumulative effect it has on their child's education." Since the formation of the task force, chronic absenteeism has decreased by 20% in the district.
Additionally, Kyrene has launched a campaign called "Here Today, Thrive Tomorrow" aimed at educating parents about the importance of consistent school attendance. The campaign provides resources, including a website, to help parents make informed decisions about when to keep their children home from school due to illness.
Education officials are hopeful that these new initiatives, combined with stricter attendance policies, will help reduce the absenteeism rates and ensure that Arizona’s students don’t miss out on valuable learning opportunities.