Grodksy Comments on Absenteeism
November 15, 2018 | By Molly Beck and Kevin Crowe
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Student absences cost three school districts and 124 schools in Wisconsin five points from their overall report card rating from the state Department of Public Instruction, but WCER researcher Eric Grodsky suggests policymakers should examine why students miss school rather than penalize schools in their ratings over a factor school staff cannot control, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
"The consensus seems to be that missing school has adverse consequences, from achievement growth to high school graduation and I'm not sure I totally buy it," Grodsky told the Journal Sentinel. He is a professor of sociology and educational policy studies who has been studying absenteeism among Madison students.
DPI assigns the state ratings after analyzing data related to academics, attendance and graduation rates from the 2017-18 school year, the Journal Sentinal reported. The report card system assigns five-star ratings to public schools and private voucher schools.
