Vermont Launched Plan to Tackle Chronic Student Absenteeism
The state aims to curb high student absence rates through new community-based support and attendance initiatives.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Vermont Agency of Education has unveiled a new strategy to address chronic absenteeism, which currently affects one in four students across the state. The initiative focuses on improving transportation, mental health support, and after-school programming to keep students in the classroom.
Why it matters
Chronic absenteeism has remained elevated since the COVID-19 pandemic, causing significant disruptions to student access to healthy meals and essential instruction. By formalizing this response, the state hopes to reverse a trend that saw absence rates climb to 42% in the 2021-22 school year.
Chronic absenteeism is officially defined as missing at least 10% of school days annually. The state expects to implement this comprehensive attendance strategy over a duration of three to five years.
The players
Vermont Agency of Education
This state-level department oversees public school operations and is responsible for implementing the new attendance framework.
Phil Scott
He is the current Governor of Vermont who signed the legislation creating the statewide attendance framework.
The details
The new state plan leverages attendance data to assist school districts in communicating with families and identifying successful attendance practices. It integrates multiple support pillars, including expanded transportation and targeted mental health resources, to mitigate the barriers that keep students from attending school.
Timeline
During the 2019-20 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate was 18%.
Chronic absenteeism peaked at 42% in the 2021-22 school year.
In the 2023-24 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate was 24%.
Governor Phil Scott signed a statewide school attendance bill in June 2026.
The state agency expects to roll out new plan steps starting in October 2026.
Roadmap
The implementation of the 2026 Vermont school attendance legislation follows a pattern set by recent state-level efforts to address post-pandemic learning gaps. This initiative represents a long-term structural shift, moving from reactive measures to a standardized multi-year statewide attendance framework.
Families across Vermont may notice changes in school communication protocols and access to new after-school resources aimed at supporting consistent attendance. These programs are designed to reduce daily barriers, such as transportation hurdles, that directly influence whether students make it to class.
The takeaway
Consistent school attendance is critical for maintaining access to essential support services and instructional progress. Families can improve outcomes by leveraging new school-provided resources designed to navigate transportation and mental health challenges.
What happens next
The Vermont Agency of Education is scheduled to begin the rollout of new attendance plan steps in October 2026.
Further reading
For additional context on local school policies, visit the Secondary Education page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wcax.
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Are local schools and community programs effectively addressing the root causes of student chronic absenteeism?
