Chronic absenteeism—defined as missing more than 10% of the school year—continues to impact one in four students in Maine. That’s over 18 days annually, or roughly two days each month, that nearly a quarter of Maine students are missing from classroom instruction. Even when absences are excused, the impact on learning is the same: lost instructional time, missed opportunities for connection, and widening gaps of achievement.
“Attendance is more than a number—it’s a reflection of whether students feel safe, valued, and supported. It’s often the earliest indicator of deeper challenges like housing instability or school climate.”
Jess Anderson, Executive Director of Count ME In!
Fortunately, schools across Maine are making progress. According to the Maine Department of Education, chronic absenteeism rates have declined each year since 2021. But while the trend is encouraging, current rates remain well above pre-pandemic levels—especially among students facing economic hardship.
As educators, we understand that chronic absenteeism affects student success—impacting academic achievement, social development, and emotional well-being.
“Attendance is more than a number—it’s a reflection of whether students feel safe, valued, and supported,” says Jess Anderson, Executive Director of Count ME In!. “It’s often the earliest indicator of deeper challenges like housing instability or school climate.”
Reducing chronic absenteeism requires authentic partnerships with students, families, and communities. That’s the foundation of Count ME In!, a Maine-based nonprofit working alongside schools to improve attendance through data-informed, relationship-driven strategies.
“And when attendance improves, classrooms stabilize, discipline issues decline, and learning environments flourish,” Anderson says.
Founded in 2010 through a community-led initiative in Cumberland County, Count ME In! has partnered with more than 120 schools across the state. By helping educators identify barriers to attendance and engage families in meaningful ways, the organization supports efforts to re-engage students and keep them connected to learning.
Setting Students Up for success
“Attendance is a learned routine,” Anderson says. “That means we can teach it, support it, and improve it. If we’re serious about boosting academic outcomes and building healthier schools, it starts with helping students show up.” This is why Count ME In! launched Everyone Counts! last year—a statewide initiative in partnership with Box of Maine to promote daily attendance in classrooms.
To participate educators celebrate days in their classroom when every student was present by submitting their class’s entry to Count ME In! by the first of each month. Classes earn entries to win fun and educational prizes like books, recess materials, and classroom activities thanks to a partnership with Box of Maine. According to Anderson, during the 2024-2025 school year, over 400 classrooms participated in the Everyone Counts! Campaign, a number they hope will grow over the course of this school year.
Educators are eager to participate again. Anderson says that educators were looking for more, so this year Everyone Counts! sends participants monthly Teir-1 tools tailored for their classrooms, along with challenges and tips designed to boost attendance and set students up for success.
Resources to Use:
Maine Engagement and Attendance Center page provides an overview of how the state uses student assessment data to evaluate educational outcomes, guide school improvement, and ensure equitable access to quality education across Maine. Learn more at www.maine.gove/doe/meac.
Count Me In! offers evidence-based tools to help educators, families, and students boost school attendance. Visit:
countmein.org to learn more and subscribe to their monthly newsletter for helpful tips and resources delivered straight to your inbox.
Everyone Counts Is a program to incentivize perfect attendance. If you are an elementary classroom educator in Maine, join the Everyone Counts Campaign for a chance to win a Box of Maine for your classroom! Find their launch kit here: bit.ly/MEAEveryoneCounts
Tips to Set Your Class Up for Success
Jess Anderson from Count ME In shares ten tips to help set your classrooms up for attendance success:
- Help your students feel seen: Greeting each student by name daily with a positive comment or gesture helps foster connections that keep students coming back.
- Create a calm start to the day: Plan, teach, and practice a clear, engaging entering routine for the first 10 minutes of class.
- Build student ownership: Invite students to track their attendance on a monthly calendar, focusing on the days they are present.
- Strengthen family connections: Send one personalized positive message (note, email, or quick call) to each family about their child’s strengths.
- Celebrate consistent attendance: Acknowledge students with over 90% attendance so far this year with a small, public recognition.
- Reinforce classroom norms: Re-teach essential routines and refresh class agreements collaboratively with students.
- Boost motivation and belonging: Give 3–5 specific behavior-based praise statements to individual students each day.
- Address barriers together: Problem-solve with students to tackle one common classroom challenge that may impact engagement.
- Reflect on your practice: Reflect on one classroom routine and make a small, data-informed change to improve its effectiveness.
- End the year with reflection: Lead an adjourning activity where students reflect on their growth throughout the year, including attendance.
Chronic Absenteeism Facts
Students who miss more than 9 days a year can make it harder for them to stay engaged and graduate.
Absences can reflect a deeper issue like stress, academic struggles, bullying, family responsibilities.
By 6th grade, attendance is an early warning sign of future challenges.
By 9th grade attendance is a better predictor of graduation than test scores.
When 20% of students are chronically absent, it affects all students and teachers, and schools need a systemic approach and plan for improvement.
5,000,000 hours of instructional time were lost during the 2023-2024 school year due to chronic absenteeism, according to Kids Count data. That’s the equivalent to over 570 years.
One in four Maine students missed more than 10% of the school year last year—over 18 days—which accounts for two days every month. Even when these absences are excused, they still add up to lost time in the classroom.
According to the Department of Education, nearly 41,000—or 24.1% of Maine students were chronically absent in 2023-2024 (the most recent data available). This has fallen since a high of 31.1%–53,265 in 2021-2022
Chronic Absenteeism Data
All data from the Maine Department of Education (n.d.). Chronic Absenteeism
maine.gov/doe/data-warehouse/reporting/absenteeism
Everyone Counts Attendance Celebration
Click here and complete the form each day everyone in your class (students and teachers) is present for the entire school day. Teachers, please use your school email to submit entries. Count Me In! will post the winning classroom(s) on social media at the beginning of each month and email the teacher who submitted the entry.
