Oklahoma Lawmaker proposes bill to protect schools from penalties for chronic absenteeism

Oklahoma struggles with chronic absenteeism in schools, but one lawmaker said she wants to change that. The Oklahoma State Report Card gives the state a D for attendance, but Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, said the grade wrongly punishes school districts. 

Q: Why do so many students miss class time?

Experts in this area say students miss class for many different reasons. The American Enterprise Institute found from 2019 to 2022 — chronic absenteeism jumped from 15% to 28%. Oklahoma saw a slight increase. Chronic absenteeism is when students miss 10 percent or more of the school year. 

Data from the state report card shows most students who miss school also face economic barriers at home. Educators within OKCPS told News 9 that most of these issues have lingered from remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Q: Why are grades on chronic absenteeism unproductive? 

Every year Oklahoma schools receive letter grades from the state on their academic progress. Chronic absenteeism is one metric factored into schools’ overall academic achievement. However, Pogemiller said she doesn’t believe every grade is an accurate reflection of a school’s progress. 

“Education is very complicated,” Pogemiller said. “We shouldn’t penalize schools for kids not showing up because they can’t make kids come to school.” 

Q: What legislation could change things? 

One of Pogemiller’s bills would remove chronic absenteeism from the Oklahoma State Report Card and replace it with a school community survey for teachers, parents, and students. 

“Instead of penalizing a school that has clearly identified a need that they need addressed, maybe we support that school,” Pogemiller said. “Asking them, ‘What do they value in the school?’ and ‘What can we do to improve the school?’” 

Pogemiller also filed another bill that would decriminalize truancy and build a program to help students who miss a lot of class time. She said she wants “a progressive intervention program through the school that fosters a compassionate and effective approach to addressing absenteeism.” 

Pogemiller said she wants to shift the focus away from a letter grade toward a tool to identify children who need the community’s help. 

"Whatever it takes to get kids to school 'cause that should really be the priority of all of us,” Pogemiller said. 

Q: What is already being done? 

Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation director of community outreach Abbie Vaughan told News 9 last April they started offering incentives for students with good attendance. Vaughan said last year, over 1,200 students improved their absenteeism.

Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna said last year she was working with OKCPS to address this problem.