Last night Educational Service Unit 2 hosted a school board dinner. The guest speaker was Education commissioner Roger Breed. The commissioner pointed out the need to improve student attendance. Last year (2009-2010) 21,964 students in Nebraska missed more than 20 days of school. That is 8.8% of the students. Of that number, 1513 of the students were in grades 1-2.
The Department of Education has the data to statistically analyze the effect of excessive absences on state assessments. The grade 11 students that missed less than 20 days averaged 102 on the state Reading assessment. Grade 11 students that missed more than 20 days averaged 72 on the Reading assessment. That information shows a clear relationship between attendance and reading scores.
The commissioner encouraged administrators and board members to be vigilant in their efforts to increase student attendance.
