The purpose of this study was to discover what contributive factors caused students to be chronically absent from school before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three guiding questions supported the research: (1) How did teachers' perceptions of reasons for students' absenteeism compare to parent attendance reasons for students' absenteeism during COVID-19 pandemic? (2) What differences existed in the truancy rate of students by gender and race during the COVID-19 pandemic? (3) What differences existed in the truancy rates of students prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and during COVID-19 pandemic? A descriptive research design was appropriate to guide the questions in incorporating either qualitative elements or quantitative elements or both for the study (Simon & Goes, 2018). [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]