The Rise of Chronic Absenteeism in Schools

Long after schools have fully reopened after the pandemic, one concerning metric suggests that children and their parents have changed the way they think about being in class.

Sarah Mervosh, an education reporter for The Times, discusses the apparent shift to a culture in which school feels optional.

Guest: Sarah Mervosh, an education reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• ​School absences have “exploded” across the United States.
• Data shows that the more time students spent in remote instruction during the pandemic, the further they fell behind.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.