Increased attention on school attendance has prompted recent concern among some families, especially parents whose children frequently miss school for medical reasons.

Advocates warn that attendance policies can be unfair to students from low-income families and students of color, who are more likely to have their absences labeled as unexcused.

Last school year, 17.8 percent of Indiana students were considered chronically absent, down 1.4 percentage points from the prior year.

Hundreds of educators, youth workers and community leaders gathered in Indianapolis to talk about how to help students who are chronically absent from school.