Millions of kids are still skipping school. Could the answer be recess — and a little cash?

Years after COVID, nearly every state is still struggling with school attendance. Roughly one in four students remained chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, according to an analysis by The Associated Press and Stanford University economist Thomas Dee. After doing school online during the pandemic, more kids and parents have decided it’s OK to stay home sometimes. Still, the problem appears to have passed its peak; almost every state saw absenteeism improve at least slightly from 2021-22 to 2022-23. Schools are working to identify students with slipping attendance, then providing help. They’re also communicating with parents, who often aren’t aware their child is missing so much school or why it’s problematic.