School nurses may be one solution to the growing problem of chronic absenteeism in Tennessee.Chronic absenteeism has been an ongoing issue nationwide that only increased following the pandemic.During the 2022-2023 school year, more than 20 percent of Tennessee students were chronically absent and those rates are higher with high school and economically disadvantaged students.

The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced current Jackson County Schools Superintendent Kristy Brown will take over as the department’s new Chief Academic Officer on July 15.