With kids headed back to classes, the state Department of Education released new data showing continued gains in test scores and attendance on Thursday.

“We celebrate today in the improvements we’re making. Our goal is not to end there. It doesn’t stop here. We are really working on surpassing our pre-pandemic levels,” Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, said.

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First, the data on chronic absenteeism. That means students missing 10% or more of days in the school year.

Before COVID-19 in 2019, chronic absenteeism was about 10%. That rose to nearly 24% in 2022.

And last school year dropped to about 17%.

In East Hartford, the superintendent said there’s been improvement as he meets directly with students,

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