1 in 3 charter school students were chronically absent last year, higher than Ohio’s average

COLUMBUS, Ohio - One in three charter school students was chronically absent last school year, according to data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

Chronic absence is when a student misses at least 10% of classroom instruction, or about two days a month. Excused and unexcused absences, as well as suspensions, all count to the overall rate. Research shows students who are not chronically absent are three times more likely to be proficient in reading and 3.9 times more likely to be proficient in math.

Related: Ohio schools plagued with chronic absenteeism with 1 in 4 students missing too much class - cleveland.com

For charter schools, the overall rate was 34.6%, higher than the statewide average of 25.1% - about one in four students. Both rates are above Ohio’s goa