Sophie Burchell

1 week ago | pressherald.com | Sophie Burchell |Bailey Arnold-Fuchs

In Portland’s suburban communities, students are missing fewer school days than during the pandemic as both schools and society return to a sense of normalcy. However, the number of students missing 10% or more of the school year — defined as “chronic absenteeism” — remains higher than pre-pandemic levels and is seeing a slight increase this year so far. A student is considered chronically absent after missing 10% of school days in an academic year, which typically amounts to 18 absences.