The inaugural series explores one of Kentucky’s most pressing educational challenges—chronic absenteeism. Through research, data, and real-world examples, the series examines how attendance has changed since the pandemic, the factors driving chronic absenteeism, and the statewide efforts, partnerships, and policy changes helping schools reconnect students and improve attendance outcomes.

The third post, “Reading Between the Lines – From Surface Level Data to Deep Insights,” looks beyond standard attendance reports to explore the real-world factors driving chronic absenteeism. By examining health-related challenges, social barriers, and household logistics — from mental health and housing instability to transportation gaps — this post highlights how districts can use student well-being data and class-level attendance patterns to address root causes, remove systemic hurdles, and better support families. Read more on the KDE Research Blog.