Maryland chronic absenteeism rate improves, but no school district meets state goal

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — The percentage of chronically absent Maryland students improved for a fourth consecutive year. But the state failed to reach its goal, despite billions of additional tax dollars going to public education.

Dr. Joshua Michael is the President of the Maryland State Board of Education. On Tuesday, he spoke with Project Baltimore about numbers just released by the state regarding chronic absenteeism.

“This is a story of progress. We are encouraged but not satisfied,” said Michael.

Dr. Joshua Michael is the President of the Maryland State Board of Education (WBFF)

In 2022, Maryland’s chronic absenteeism rate reached 30.9%. For 2026, the chronic absenteeism rate is 22.8%

“What is important is that we stay focused on improving outcomes for children,” said Michael.

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While the chronic absenteeism rate statewide is down to 22.8%, that number does not meet the goal set by the Maryland State Department of Education. In 2024, the state set a goal to reduce chronic absenteeism to 15.0% by 2026. Not one school system in Maryland hit that mark.

A student is considered chronically absent when they miss at least 10% of school – or about 18 days over an entire school year.

In the Baltimore region, Howard and Harford County Public Schools reported the lowest rate of chronic absenteeism in the state at 15.4%. Carroll and Anne Arundel County Schools weren’t far behind at 16.6% and 17.8%, respectively.

. In 2024, the state set a goal to reduce chronic absenteeism to 15.0% by 2026. Not one school system in Maryland hit that mark (WBFF)

Baltimore County Public Schools reported a rate of 21.5%. And Baltimore City Schools had the state’s highest rate of chronic absenteeism at 41.4% – nearly three times higher than the statewide goal of 15.0%.

“We set very ambitious goals to create a sense of urgency and focus in our public school system,” said Michael. “What has resulted is significant progress in chronic absenteeism as well as in literacy and mathematics.”

Third through eighth grade English Language Arts and math proficiencies, since 2024, have both increased by about three percentage points. Statewide in 2026, 50.2% of students tested proficient in ELA. In math, 27.1% of students tested proficient. While there is improvement, those numbers, similar to chronic absenteeism, are far below the goals set by the state in 2024.

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State Senator Joanne Benson has represented Prince George’s County in Annapolis since 1991. She’s retiring later this year. Benson tells Project Baltimore she is concerned by the amount of academic progress students are making in public schools.

“That sends a very unfortunate sign,” remarked Benson. “That doesn’t say to me that our children are doing better educationally.”

Earlier this month, Project Baltimore spoke with Benson who said lawmakers in Annapolis need to revisit the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future – the state’s landmark education law, passed in 2021, that pumps billions of additional tax dollars into public education.

Baltimore City Schools had the state’s highest rate of chronic absenteeism at 41.4% – nearly three times higher than the statewide goal of 15.0% (WBFF)

“They need to go back and take a look, because while we may be making little progress – baby steps,” stated Benson. “The kind of money that we’re throwing at this program is not serving the purpose for which I believe the Blueprint was written in the first place.”

Benson told FOX45 the state is funding education programs that do not work. FOX45 News asked Michael about Benson’s concerns.

“Senator Benson is the Dean of the Senate. She is a former principal, forever principal. Let me make this point. We have not seen academic gains in the state of Maryland since Senator Benson was in the House of delegates,” stated Michael. “Certainly, we should be examining specific policy provisions of the blueprint. We should do that with all policies. But this is a story of progress in public schools.”

The individual schools with Maryland’s highest rates of chronic absenteeism are all in Baltimore City. Excel Academy at 93.4%. Achievement Academy at 91.3%, and Edmondson Westside High School at 91%.

Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to cjpapst@sbgtv.com