Maryland Aims to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism by 15% in 3 Years

In response to the massive spike in student absenteeism following the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland education leaders are ramping up efforts to curb the crisis. As of the 2025-08-29 reference date, the state's Board of Education is now tracking student absences on a monthly basis, a shift from the previous annual reporting.

The goal is to reduce chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of enrolled school days, by 15 percentage points over the next three years. Prior to the pandemic, Maryland's chronic absenteeism rate was 19.5% in the 2018-19 school year. This rate skyrocketed to 30% in the 2022-23 school year, and the state now aims to bring it down to 15% by the 2024-25 academic year.

Baltimore City, where nearly half of students were chronically absent in the 2023-24 school year, is a particular area of focus. The city's absenteeism rate has decreased from a pandemic high of 58% but remains alarmingly high at 49%. Local leaders, including the City Council, are working to address the issue, though significant challenges persist.

The state's chronic absenteeism task force is set to deliver a report by the end of this year, proposing regulations and best practices to tackle the problem. Factors such as transportation, unstable home environments, and lack of enrichment opportunities have been identified as contributors to the crisis. Addressing these root causes will be crucial in the state's efforts to get students back in the classroom consistently.