New research is sharpening the attendance threshold that signals academic risk: a study of 9,000 Boston students finds absenteeism rates as low as 3–7% can predict below‑grade performance later, suggesting interventions must start earlier than chronic‑absence cutoffs. Separately, teacher surveys report widespread weakness in students’ self‑regulation—behavioral control and emotional management—which educators tie to screen use, pandemic disruptions, and uneven early childhood supports. Together, the findings accentuate K–12 pipeline issues that influence college readiness metrics, remediation needs, and district‑to‑college transitions; higher‑education leaders tracking incoming cohorts should expect continued variability in preparation.