Absenteeism spiked in the pandemic. Texas schools want the state’s help to keep students in the classroom.

A student who misses 10% of the days in a school year -- enough to be considered chronically absent -- will lose opportunities for counseling and will have an increased risk of educational issues. (Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune)

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In a typical school week, Delaila Constante makes more than a dozen calls to parents of students who are frequently absent from school. Last October, she made around 50 to 60 calls each week.