Potentially half of the local educational agencies in California will be identified as failing to meet chronic absenteeism standards under a performance matrix set for adoption this week by the state board of education. Until now, the state has not yet applied a value to current rates, as in ‘good’ or ‘needs improvement’ or something in-between. That is expected to change if the California State Board of Education follows through with a staff recommendation to approve a five-level indicator, which will likely pose a big challenge for most districts and schools to meet.