The Atlanta Journal Constitution – Maureen Downey
“A report released tonight shows chronic absences – viewed typically as a problem in middle and high school – occur even in kindergarten.The report, “Mapping the Early Attendance Gap: Charting a Course for Student Success,” calls for more investigation into children who miss 10 percent or more of school a year, the causes of those absences and possible remedies. “It really is something that affects our youngest children,” said Hedy Chang, director of Attendance Works and an author of the report, in a media call this afternoon. “And many of these are excused, not unexcused absences.”(more)