Solano County Superintendent of Schools Jay Speck on Tuesday announced that local school districts are teaming up to stem the numbers of chronic absences.

A student is chronically absent when he or she misses 10 percent or more school days, or about 18 days per year, for any reason, including excused absences.

“Research proves that students who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are far less likely to read proficiently by third-grade,” Speck said in a press release. “For every day of school missed, it takes three days to make up what was taught.”

via School districts in Solano County team up to stem chronic absenteeism.