As the new school year begins across West River districts, South Dakota faces a troubling trend: chronic absenteeism has nearly doubled since 2019, and Rapid City Area Schools report a 2.16% drop in enrollment for 2025–26.
In response, the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office is prioritizing support over punishment. While state law mandates school attendance—with penalties including up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine for noncompliance—the focus is on helping families through its Juvenile Diversion and Truancy Intervention Program. Officials say absenteeism often stems from poverty, housing instability, and transportation barriers.
Programs like Rapid City’s Youth Free Ride initiative, which offers free bus rides to students, have proven effective in boosting attendance. Chronic absenteeism—defined as missing 10% or more of the school year—is linked to higher dropout rates and long-term financial disadvantages, with non-graduates earning up to $400,000 less over a lifetime.
September marks National Attendance Awareness Month, led by Attendance Works, a nonprofit helping schools nationwide tackle absenteeism through data-driven strategies and community partnerships.
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