LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - The Nebraska Department of Education is putting their 4-year plan into action starting in 2026 after the state’s board of education spent a year shaping up a blueprint to improve academic success for students.

One of the focal points, cracking down on chronic absenteeism in the state. The Nebraska Department of Education defines a chronic absence as a student missing 10% of their time in a classroom, which includes excused or unexcused absences.

The Nebraska DOE said more than 65,000 students were chronically absent in the last school year, that is 21% of Nebraska students.

Commissioner of Education Dr. Brian Maher said they are starting to see improvement in Nebraska schools because of an emphasis on the importance behind attendance.

The culprit of the issue, Dr

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