In the new school year, classrooms across Cleveland may be seeing half of their desks empty. In the last school year, every day across Cleveland, nearly 56% of students were chronically absent , which means they missed at least 10% of the school year. Compared to the state ( 25% on average ) and nationally ( nearly 28% ), Cleveland is facing a serious problem.

But if you look closer, you realize these aren’t delinquents skipping class. They’re sick kids trapped in a vicious cycle: Illness keeps them from school, missed school worsens their education outcomes, poor education limits their futures, and limited futures perpetuate the very causes of their illnesses.

A look at the data tells the story. Nationally, 67% of chronic absences stem from health issues, a recent Rand Corp. surv

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