MACON, Ga. — As Bibb County students returned to class after fall break on Monday, school officials were already bracing for a familiar challenge: empty desks, especially on Fridays and the first day back after holidays.

Chronic absenteeism — defined by the state as missing more than 10% of the school year — remains a persistent problem in Bibb County and across Georgia.

Last year, state officials reported that one in five students met that threshold, a statistic that has prompted district leaders to double down on efforts to keep students in class.

“We have seen some trend data with our students being absent on Friday and even sometimes on Monday after school breaks,” said Takeysha Lewis, Bibb County’s attendance and transfer coordinator. “I think that is again attributed to us really

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