Story perspectives

Illinois Removes Absenteeism Metric Amid Rising Chronic Absences

5/19/2026

Summary

Illinois Board Drops

Illinois' State Board approved in April to drop chronic absenteeism from school ratings.
The “consistent attendance” metric counts students present at least 90 % of the year.
In 2024-25, 25 % of Illinois students were chronically absent, eight points above the pre-pandemic 17.5 % level.
The board lowered Assessment of Readiness standards despite less than half of third-graders reading at grade level and chronic absenteeism raising dropout risk sevenfold.

Summary

Show Up Boosts

The “Show Up and Shine” program raised national school attendance by 12.2% in Term 1 2026 versus Term 1 2025.
Attendance rose 57% at Ngaruawahia Primary School and 48% at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Toku Mapihi Maurea.
Canterbury schools reached an average attendance of 80.8%, meeting the government’s 2030 target four years early.
Winning classes such as Benneydale School (Room 3) and Lyttelton Primary achieved 98% and 97.6% attendance respectively.

History

Historical Context

Passed in December 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act shifted chronic-absenteeism reporting to states, making it a common fifth accountability indicator. Illinois’ 2024 decision to remove absenteeism from school ratings follows that federal mandate, just as New Zealand’s 2026 “Show Up and Shine” program mirrors the same emphasis. The Senate passed ESSA 85–12.

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Illinois Board Drops

Illinois' State Board approved in April to drop chronic absenteeism from school ratings.
The “consistent attendance” metric counts students present at least 90 % of the year.
In 2024-25, 25 % of Illinois students were chronically absent, eight points above the pre-pandemic 17.5 % level.
The board lowered Assessment of Readiness standards despite less than half of third-graders reading at grade level and chronic absenteeism raising dropout risk sevenfold.

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