Why has chronic absenteeism become so prevalent in Illinois schools?

More students in Illinois have been missing significant amounts of school since the COVID-19 pandemic. It's raising concerns about the education students are getting -- or missing out on.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, 28% of students across the state were considered chronically absent last year compared to 17% in the last years before the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education says the uptick since then probably has something to do with a drop in test scores on topics like reading and math.

Several experts in the education system join the 21st today for an in depth discussion on the causes and effects of chronic absenteesim.

GUESTS

Felicia Stapleton
Project Impact Supervisor, Regional Office of Education 51 (Sangamon and Menard counties)

Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat 
Superintendent, Peoria Public Schools

Keisa Garrett 
Chief of Schools, East St. Louis School District 189