Federal Report Cites Halt in Education Department Oversight Amid High Absenteeism

A new federal watchdog report indicates the U.S. Department of Education ceased comprehensive monitoring of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 2026, coinciding with chronic student absenteeism reaching crisis levels. The report highlights that at least a quarter of K-12 students were chronically absent in recent years, underscoring a significant gap in federal oversight of this critical issue.