COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio officials have launched a new tool aimed at improving student attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism across the state.
Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin announced Tuesday the rollout of the Statewide Attendance Dashboard, a public online platform designed to give schools, families, and communities real-time access to attendance data.
The dashboard, available at Attendance.Ohio.gov, will be updated weekly and allow users to view attendance trends statewide, as well as break down chronic absenteeism rates by district, school building, and grade level.
“Every child in Ohio deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and that starts with being in school,” DeWine said. “This dashboard is a tool for the entire community—parents, educators, local leaders, and neighbors—to work together to help students show up, stay engaged, and succeed.”
The platform also includes a trend line tracking the percentage of students considered chronically absent over time. Users can hover over weekly data points and compare districts, schools, and student groups.
Students are categorized into four attendance levels:
- Satisfactory (absent less than 5% of school hours)
- At-Risk (5–10%)
- Moderate Chronic Absence (10–20%)
- Severe Chronic Absence (more than 20%)
Officials define chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of the school year—roughly two to three days per month, or nearly a full month of school annually.
“This is a major step forward in how we track and respond to attendance issues in Ohio,” Dackin said. “For the first time, schools and communities will have weekly attendance data that helps identify problems early and respond with targeted support.”
State leaders say attendance remains a major concern. During his recent State of the State address, DeWine noted that more than 25% of Ohio students were chronically absent last year, with rates even higher in some urban districts.
Education officials say the dashboard was developed in partnership with multiple organizations, including the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network, and will continue to expand as more districts integrate their data systems.
Some schools are still working to align reporting systems, meaning additional districts and community schools are expected to be added in the coming months.
Officials say the goal is transparency and early intervention, giving communities a clearer picture of attendance trends and a shared tool to help improve student outcomes across Ohio.
