In a significant shift for Illinois education, the State Board of Education has decided to remove poor attendance from the criteria used to rate schools. This decision, approved in April, comes at a time when approximately 25% of students in the state miss a substantial portion of the academic year. All nine board members responsible for this decision were appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Attendance Metrics Revised

The new system replaces the term ‘chronic absenteeism’ with ‘consistent attendance,’ focusing on the percentage of students present for 90% or more of the school year. While this change might seem like a simple semantic adjustment, it alters the impact of attendance on school ratings. Previously, poor attendance could lower a school’s rating, but under the new system, only strong attendance will positively influence ratings, while weak attendance will not detract from them.

This ‘strengths-based’ approach means that high rates of absenteeism will no longer negatively affect school evaluations. In the 2024-25 school year, 25% of Illinois students were chronically absent, compared to a national average of about 22%. Although absenteeism in Illinois has been declining since the pandemic, it remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Impact on Education

Research indicates that chronic absenteeism can lead to lower reading and graduation rates. The U.S. Department of Education has found that children who are frequently absent in early grades are less likely to read at grade level by third grade, a critical milestone for future academic success. Illinois is already facing a literacy challenge, with less than half of third-graders reading at grade level as of 2025. High absenteeism rates threaten to exacerbate this issue.

Furthermore, high school students with a history of chronic absenteeism are significantly more likely to drop out. Despite these concerns, the state has opted to soften accountability metrics. In 2025, the board lowered the proficiency standards for reading and math, yet half of the students still failed to meet reading proficiency.

Critics argue that instead of lowering standards, Illinois should focus on maintaining rigorous and transparent educational metrics to improve student outcomes.

Original reporting: Illinois Policy Institute — read the source article.