Ontario's plan to reduce student absenteeism involves making attendance worth 10-15% of a student's final grade. However, experts highlight that this approach alone may not suffice. Currently, only 40% of high school students meet the attendance standard of being present at least 90% of the time, a decline of nearly 20 percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. Factors contributing to absenteeism include illness, family vacations, and a lack of perceived value in attending school. Experts like Tracy Vaillancourt from the University of Ottawa stress the importance of understanding the reasons behind absenteeism to create effective solutions. They advocate for addressing underlying issues such as mental health, family responsibilities, and transportation barriers. Ontario school boards have initiated various attendance campaigns, including re-engagement teams and direct outreach to families. However, experts warn that without adequate support, the new grading policy may disproportionately affect students already facing challenges. Strategies from other jurisdictions, like attendance competitions and building strong relationships between educators and students, could provide valuable lessons for Ontario's efforts to improve student attendance.