Press Releases

New Data Reveals Delaware Students are Missing a ‘Ton’ of School

6/26/2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
NEWARK, D.E. – The Caesar Rodney Institute released a new report that analyzes student absenteeism before, during, and after COVID-19. The data shows a steady increase (2019-2022) in the percentage of Delaware students that are not attending school. Dr. Tanya Hettler, Ph.D., CRI’s Director of the Center for Education Excellence, writes:
 
“Chronic absenteeism has surged in Delaware post COVID-19. Prior to closures and remote learning in response to COVID-19, 13% of students were chronically absent. After Delaware schools re-opened full-time post COVID-19, the number of chronically absent students jumped to 25% in 2022.”
 
Dr. Hettler attributes Delaware's “chronic absenteeism” to bad habits from COVID-19 school closures, relaxed discipline policies, and teacher shortages.
 
“The DOE's ‘Report Card’ says attendance for the 2021-2022 school year is ‘not applicable.’ Yet when Dr. Hettler dug further, she found that the state's data show that for the 2021-2022 school year, 25% of students were chronically absent. This situation is out of control, and it’s time to bring stricter discipline back into our schools.” - John Toedtman, Executive Director
 
Please CLICK HERE to read the complete report, which includes Dr. Hettler’s solutions to this problem. 
 
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ABOUT CAESAR RODNEY INSTITUTE

The Caesar Rodney Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan Delaware-based public policy think tank committed to protecting individual liberties. We create fact-based analyses to help Delawareans make more informed decisions. We envision a Delaware where all Delawareans are empowered to make informed decisions that best enable them to pursue their aspirations and achieve their goals. www.CaeserRodney.org.

 
Contact: Vil Vongphrachanh
Email: Vil@CaesarRodney.org