Los Angeles County officials announced a renewed plan to boost student attendance rates and help provide resources to support families.

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, described absenteeism as more than just a school district metric, but referred to it as a "critically important public health issue."

Ferrer said there are multiple reasons that students miss school, including unstable housing, lack of transportation, immigration trauma and lack of proper caregivers. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools, added that there are several structural barriers that prevent student attendance.

She cited research that points to the negative effects of absenteeism beyond missing out on school instruction.

"In LA County, stude

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