TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - One in three Arizona students is missing too much school, and leaders are split on how to solve the problem.

The Helios Education Foundation released numbers showing 34 percent of high schoolers are chronically absent. That means they miss 10 percent of the school year, or nine days, per semester.

Absenteeism remains higher than pre-pandemic levels

Absenteeism in Arizona is still higher than before the pandemic. In 2018, 24 percent of high school students and 14 percent of students in K-8 were absent. Across the board, absenteeism gets worse in high school.

Absenteeism is still between 10 and 15 percent higher than before the pandemic. The pandemic may continue to be a factor, but leaders agree it’s time for solutions.

Leaders propose different approaches

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