TRENTON, N.J. – Legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley K. Turner and Angela McKnight to establish the “Chronic Absenteeism Task Force” has now passed the full Senate, moving New Jersey one step closer to identifying solutions to address chronic student absenteeism across the state.
The 20-member task force will be comprised of education practitioners, leaders, and parent advocates appointed by the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner’s designee. The panel will study trends in chronic absenteeism, particularly in light of the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student engagement and school attendance.
“This is a vital step toward helping our students succeed,” said Senator Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “If students are not in school, they are not learning. We cannot fix what we do not fully understand. This task force will dig into the root causes of chronic absenteeism and ensure we’re implementing thoughtful, real-world strategies to get students back into the classroom, and keep them there.”
Under bill S3776, the task force will:
- Compare current and pre-pandemic absenteeism rates
- Implement root cause analysis of absences, including school climate, mental health, and family or financial challenges
- Review the impact of discipline policies and COVID-19 exposure on attendance rates
- Outline national best practices that can be adapted for New Jersey
- Recommend strategies for boosting family engagement and supporting consistent attendance
“When students miss school, they miss opportunities. Consistent attendance is the foundation of academic growth and future success,” said Senator McKnight (D Hudson). “By using data and lived experience, this task force will create actionable policy to address absenteeism at its core and ensure no student is left behind.”
Members of the task force would serve without compensation and would be supported by the administrative and professional staff of the New Jersey Department of Education. No later than one year after its creation, the task force would submit a final report with findings and legislative proposals to the Governor and Legislature.
Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year, has risen across the country since the COVID 19 pandemic. In New Jersey, the rate peaked at 18.1 percent in the 2021–22 school year and has since declined to 14.9 percent in 2023–24. However, that figure still significantly exceeds the 10.6 percent pre pandemic rate recorded in 2018–19.
The legislation passed in a 39-0 vote.
