ATLANTA — Efforts to make Georgia schools safer are exacerbating student absenteeism, a major problem that lawmakers have been studying since this summer. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least 10% of a school year, which in Georgia is typically 180 school days. Lynch told lawmakers that their own efforts to make schools safe are contributing to absenteeism. Email newsletter signupEarlier this year, the General Assembly passed House Bill 268, a bipartisan state law to enhance school safety after last year’s mass shooting at Apalachee High School. “On average, the life expectancy of someone who has dropped out of high school is eight years less than someone who completed high school.