During the 2024–2025 school year, Georgia’s chronic absenteeism rate was almost 20%, with more than 360,000 students missing 10% or more of school days. Behind each statistic is a child facing barriers to school attendance that are often beyond their control. As the only nonprofit in Georgia solely dedicated to reducing chronic absenteeism and promoting positive attendance habits, the Truancy Intervention Project (TIP) partners with schools and families to help get kids back on track. This work includes representing students and families in truancy court—ensuring they are heard, supported, and engaged in school. “Intervention is required for

Chronic absenteeism is a serious challenge, but 2025 offered powerful reasons to believe it’s solvable. We saw students return to class, families get the support they needed, partners step up in new ways, and systems begin to shift. Each moment is a reminder that by showing up, again and again, we can rewrite the story. The passage of SB 123 marked a significant turning point, formally recognizing chronic absenteeism as a crisis and laying the groundwork for more coordinated, statewide action. When 13-year-old T.R. came to TIP with 28 unexcused absences, her future felt uncertain. Within months,

Every act of kindness helps us step in sooner, show up stronger, and support more kids. In uncertain times, kids need something steady to hold onto. For some, a stable home provides that foundation. Not all are so fortunate. Today, nearly half of U.S. families with children under six struggle to meet at least one basic need, like food and housing. As hardship rises, school becomes more than a place to learn. It’s a warm meal. A structured routine. Caring adults. The painful irony is that the children who need this support system the most are often

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize many students’ unseen battles. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline or call 1-800-799-SAFE for support and help locating a nearby shelter. RAINN.org also provides free, confidential support services and information for survivors of sexual violence. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” — Wendy Mass  Chronic absenteeism is rarely just about a lack of motivation or disinterest in learning. Behind many missed days are deeper, more painful realities, rooted in trauma, unmet

When TIP first opened its doors in 1991, the challenges students and families faced were very real, driven by factors like poverty and systemic barriers. But nearly 35 years ago, they were different in scale and intensity. Over the decades, the landscape has evolved. Absenteeism has surged, fueled by worsening inequality, housing insecurity, the COVID crisis, and strained mental health systems. In 2024, Georgia’s chronic absenteeism rate stood at 21.3%, up from 20.1% in 2021 Atlanta Public Schools had a much higher rate of chronic absenteeism—34.5% Nationwide, chronic absenteeism has nearly doubled since 2018, reaching 26% in

The first few weeks of school set the tone for the entire year. That’s why Attendance Awareness Month, observed every September, is so important. Research from Attendance Works shows that half of students who miss just two to four days this month will go on to miss nearly a month of school over the course of the year. Public education is meant to be the great equalizer, but chronic absenteeism continues to deepen inequities, especially for historically disenfranchised families and communities. The crisis has grown so urgent that Georgia policymakers have taken notice. Earlier this year, lawmakers