Should Child Welfare Be Called Over School Absences?

In New York State, teachers and other educators are required by law to report families to child welfare when students are chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism rose after the pandemic, climbing from 26 percent in 2018–19 to 40 percent in 2021–22, and was 33 percent in New York City public schools in 2024–25; the rate is higher in high school.

Yet in 2023 only 8 percent of educator reports based solely on chronic absenteeism led to a family court finding of neglect or abuse. Most families who are reported do not meet that threshold, and advocates say the resulting investigations can be intrusive and traumatic.

There is a growing movement to stop treating chronic absence as an automatic child welfare referral; about half of states, including California, Texas and Illinois, do not require child-welfare intervention for educational neglect. Advocates and analysts say many absences have causes that can be addressed with support rather than legal action.

United States, New York State

chronic absenteeism, child welfare, educational neglect, educator reports, family court, new york, nyc schools, pandemic, high school, family support