States Participating in the 50% Challenge

Attendance Works, EdTrust and Nat Malkus with AEI have launched the national chronic absence challenge: reduce chronic absence by 50% in 5 years. We congratulate the state education leaders listed below who have committed to this challenge!

To support the challenge we’re first developing tools for states, including The 50% Challenge: Crafting a State Road Map toolkit, designed to support their work on a statewide student engagement and attendance plan tailored to their local circumstances. 

Chronic absence, or missing more than 10% of school days for any reason, spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic, and rates remain elevated across the nation. It is affecting schools and districts in every state and students and families in every demographic group.

Turning this around will take all of us working together. State education leaders - governors, education agencies and policy makers – are uniquely positioned to alert everyone to the size of this challenge and to ensure they have the tools and strategies to improve engagement and attendance in school.

  • Alabama
    Dr. Eric Mackey, State Superintendent of Education

  • Arkansas
    Jacob Oliva, Commissioner of Education

  • Colorado
    Susana Córdova, Commissioner of Education

  • Connecticut
    Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, Commissioner of Education

  • District of Columbia
    Antoinette S. Mitchell, Ph.D., Interim State Superintendent, Office of the State Superintendent of Education

  • Iowa
    McKenzie Snow, Director, Iowa Department of Education

  • Maryland
    Carey M. Wright, Superintendent of Schools

  • Nebraska
    Brian Maher, Commissioner of Education

  • Nevada
    Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction

  • New Mexico
    Candice Castillo, Deputy Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Public Education Department

  • Ohio
    Stephen Dackin, Director, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

  • Rhode Island
    Angélica Infante-Green, Commissioner of Education

  • Virginia
    Lisa Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction

  • Washington
    Chris Reykdal, Superintendent of Public Instruction

  • West Virginia
    Michele Blatt, Superintendent of Schools

Policy and Messaging Resources

  • Getting Back to Class: How States Are Addressing Chronic Absenteeism, an article by the National Conference of State Legislatures, shares examples of state policies designed for addressing the underlying issues behind chronic absence, establishing outreach services to forge relationships and enhancing data collection practices.

  • At least 18 states approved laws clarifying rules around taking student attendance, requiring intervention strategies and softening punitive approaches to truancy. Check out our blog post and watch the FutureEd webinar, State Policy Solutions for Reducing Student Absenteeism.

  • Researchers with the Ad Council conducted a survey with a diverse mix of more than 5,000 parents/caregivers, and developed a toolkit with tips for communicating with families about attendance and chronic absence. Find the research report and the toolkit, Back to the Classroom.

  • Announce your participation in the challenge using our sample press release!. Please tailor as you wish and there is no need to credit Attendance Works.