Absenteeism in school districts throughout Florida skyrocketed beginning during the COVID-19 pandemic — and, confounding experts’ predictions and defying educators’ hopes, it hasn’t come back ...

Florida schools face alarming rise in student absences since pandemic Steven Walker, Leslie Postal, Scott Travis, Orlando Sentinel Thu, June 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM UTC ...

Since 2018, Florida has seen a staggering 54.5% increase in chronic absenteeism, reaching 30.9% for the 2022-23 school year, making it the seventh highest in the nation.

School absences reflect greater culture. Recently retired after a 20-year career teaching secondary mathematics, I can attest to the daunting challenge (“The absence epidemic,” June 8) posed ...

The Rise in School Absences Through the Eyes of an Educator. Story by Kelsey Garcia • 3d. S ocial distancing is a thing of the past. Flights are full and stadiums are sold out.

Polk County schools are seeing a significant rise in student absences due to illness. Fourteen schools throughout Polk County have reported sick absence rates greater than 10% at least one day so ...

A Florida State Senator has introduced a bill aimed to address chronic absences by students attending public schools. Sign up for our Newsletters Senate bill 938, which was introduced by ...

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ivan Flores didn’t love school before the pandemic hit, but his views soured more when he did ninth grade online and off campus. “I was just at home doing nothing, waking up ...

Senate bill 938, which was introduced by Republican Stan McClain, was filed Thursday in the Florida Senate. According to the bill’s text, if a student has at least five unexcused absences or ...