During a recent meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, significant discussions centered around educational data dashboards aimed at improving student outcomes in South Carolina. The dashboards, developed over the past two and a half years, provide valuable insights into various educational stages, including pre-kindergarten, K-12, and post-graduation metrics.

The pre-K dashboard focuses on the results of four-year-olds, while the K-12 dashboard allows users to analyze data from specific high schools. This includes tracking the percentage of students who transition to post-secondary education after graduation, their persistence into sophomore year, and their graduation rates six years later. The post-graduate dashboard utilizes national student clearinghouse data to provide a comprehensive view of student success beyond high school.

A key point of discussion was the issue of chronic absenteeism, which has emerged as a critical factor affecting academic performance. In the 2022-2023 school year, approximately 23% of students were classified as chronically absent, meaning they missed about 10% of the school year. This trend raises concerns about its impact on overall educational outcomes and highlights the need for targeted interventions.

The committee also discussed ongoing projects related to the accountability system, with a call for nominations for a cyclical review scheduled for this year. This review aims to ensure that the accountability measures in place effectively support student achievement and address the challenges identified through the dashboards.

Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of data-driven approaches in education and the need for continued focus on student attendance and performance metrics. As the committee moves forward, the insights gained from these dashboards will be crucial in shaping policies that enhance educational outcomes across the state.