Fact Check: Children aged 7 to 17 were missing from ten days to over a year.

Fact Check: "Children aged 7 to 17 were missing from ten days to over a year."

What We Know

The claim that "children aged 7 to 17 were missing from ten days to over a year" lacks specific statistical backing. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, children aged 6–17 years who missed more than ten days of school due to illness or injury were primarily those with serious emotional or behavioral difficulties (EBDs). The statistics indicate that only 13.4% of children with EBDs missed more than ten days of school, compared to 3.5% of those without EBDs (CDC QuickStats). Furthermore, the data does not support the notion that children in this age group are missing for extended periods like a year; rather, it focuses on school attendance related to health issues.

Additionally, the Office of Justice Programs provides statistics on missing children, indicating that while there are cases of children reported missing, the majority of these instances are resolved relatively quickly. For example, the National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children (NISMART) report that most missing children are found within a short time frame, often within hours or days (OJP Missing Children Statistics).

Analysis

The claim appears to conflate two different issues: school absenteeism due to health reasons and the phenomenon of children being reported missing. The data from the CDC indicates that while some children may miss significant amounts of school, this is not synonymous with being "missing" in the context of abduction or runaway cases. The statistics show that the majority of children who are reported missing are typically found quickly, and the notion of being missing for "over a year" is not supported by any substantial evidence from credible sources.

Moreover, the reliability of the sources cited is high. The CDC and the Office of Justice Programs are reputable organizations that provide data based on rigorous research and national surveys. Their findings are regularly updated and reflect a comprehensive analysis of the issues surrounding missing children and school absenteeism. The claim lacks any reference to specific studies or data that would substantiate the assertion of children being missing for extended periods.

Conclusion

Verdict: False. The claim that "children aged 7 to 17 were missing from ten days to over a year" is misleading and unsupported by credible data. The statistics indicate that while some children may miss school due to health issues, this does not equate to being missing in the context of abduction or long-term disappearance. Most cases of missing children are resolved quickly, and there is no evidence to suggest that children in this age group are commonly missing for extended periods.