Event Summary 

On July 17, AEI’s Nat Malkus was joined by Education Trust’s Denise Forte and Attendance Works’ Hedy Chang to discuss chronic absenteeism. Dr. Malkus presented chronic absenteeism data from his Return to Learn Tracker, then sat down for a fireside chat with Ms. Forte and Ms. Chang. They noted that chronic absenteeism is an urgent, nonpartisan issue, and they called on states and districts to adopt an ambitious but achievable goal: Cut chronic absenteeism by 50 percent in five years. They concluded with questions from the audience.

Ms. Chang and Dr. Malkus then moderated a panel of prominent education leaders, including Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons, Rhode Island’s Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angélica Infante-Green, Topeka Public Schools’ Superintendent Tiffany Anderson, and the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Caitlin Codella Low. The panel suggested practical strategies for addressing chronic absenteeism at the state and district levels and concluded by answering questions from the audience.

—Annika Marshall

Event Description

With the 2024–25 school year upon us, chronic absenteeism remains a grim reality in schools across the country. Consistent attendance is key to student success, but during the pandemic, chronic absenteeism skyrocketed, increasing in every state and for all student groups. The painfully slow reduction of these rates makes chronic absenteeism the top priority for the upcoming school year. This nonpartisan issue requires attention and action from everyone—including parents, classroom teachers, state superintendents, and governors.

On July 17, please join us as AEI teams up with Attendance Works and the Education Trust for a public event on chronic absenteeism. Listen to the panel discussions and the call to set a new goal: cutting chronic absenteeism by 50 percent over five years.

Event Materials

Craft Your Engagement and Attendance State Road Map

Agenda

3:30 p.m.
Registration

4:00 p.m.
Opening Remarks:
Nat Malkus, Deputy Director, Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

4:05 p.m.
Panel I

Panelists:
Hedy Chang, Founder, Attendance Works
Denise Forte, President, Education Trust

Moderator:
Nat Malkus, Deputy Director, Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

4:25 p.m.
Q&A

4:35 p.m.
Panel II

Panelists:
Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent, Topeka Public Schools
Lisa Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Virginia Department of Education
Angélica Infante-Green, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Rhode Island Department of Education
Caitlin Codella Low, Vice President, US Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Moderator:
Hedy Chang, Founder, Attendance Works

5:10 p.m.
Q&A

5:20 p.m.
Concluding Remarks:
Denise Forte, President, Education Trust
Nat Malkus, Deputy Director, Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

5:30 p.m.
Adjournment

Related Content

Chronic Absenteeism After the Pandemic
Nat Malkus | AEI event | February 8, 2024