GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — From 2021 to 2023, the State of Michigan saw increase of students with chronic absenteeism.
But in recent years – attendance numbers have gone up.
Over the last three years, attendance rates have increased each year, from 88.8% in 2021-22 to 91.3% in 2024-25.
One thing the Department of Education and administrators say is to blame for the absenteeism, is the COVID-19 Pandemic.
TCAPS Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner told 9&10 that he believes parents more on the edge of caution if a child is sick and keeping them home, but he added “we’re seeing those numbers go down this recent year, here are most recent numbers having, attendance rates actually improved by 2%. ”
Traverse City Area Public Schools has been doing their part in helping keep students in school by following the states chronically absent policy, and if students continue to miss school, there are more steps the district will take.
Dr. VanWagoner said “Northwest Education Services does have a truancy officer. In those extreme situations, again, very few. But in those extreme situations where a kid is gone, often 30, 40, 50 days. At that point that they get involved, to be able to talk with parents and making sure that they understand that some of the legal requirements, that they want to make sure of child safety.”
But the district is doing what they can to help students and their families .
Dr. VanWagoner said “we can work with our social workers and our, our administrators to work with that student. We have supports, again, with other agencies such as Big Brothers, Big Sisters and CAA, others, to see if we can provide some tutoring, support kind of things possibly.”