LEXINGTON, Ky. — Five school districts in Eastern Kentucky gathered to develop strategies for combating chronic absenteeism during a workshop held March 27 at the Southeast South-Central Educational Cooperative office in London, according to Kentucky Teacher.

The Kentucky Department of Education and REL Appalachia hosted the kickoff session, the first of two workshops and three collaborative strategic planning sessions designed to help districts address the issue. Representatives from Harlan County, McCreary County, Montgomery County, Wayne County and Wolfe County participated, along with representatives from three regional educational cooperatives.

The workshop included presentations, discussions and coaching sessions about resources the state department offers. Each district received a personalized interactive Power BI dashboard with specific data on chronic absenteeism, culture, climate and contextual factors for their counties and communities, along with an action planning guide. KDE defines a student as chronically absent if they have missed more than 10% of the time enrolled in school, including both excused and unexcused absences.

District leaders identified several contributing factors to chronic absenteeism, including mental health challenges, housing and food insecurity, transportation issues and student and parental apathy. Research shows chronic absenteeism is a leading cause of poor grades and can make it difficult for students to learn to read by third grade, achieve in middle school and graduate from high school.

KDE has set an ambitious goal to reduce the average statewide absenteeism rate from 25% to 15% by 2029, increasing outreach to schools to help educators promote consistent attendance. District officials from Harlan County shared how their district worked to showcase opportunities, including a new STEM academy and preschool programs aimed at engaging families. A second workshop session will take place July 27 to bring school-based staff into the conversation and further examine strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism.

KDE is also hosting a "You Belong! Attendance Matters" video and poster showcase, a student-led initiative featuring Kentucky students creating content for the 2026 Student Technology Leadership Program State Championship on April 24.