Districts Experiment With Cutting Down on Teacher Absence

Despite new evidence that teacher absences harm student achievement, expert advice on ways to reduce unnecessary leave far outstrips what education leaders have so far ventured to do about the problem.

Still, some districts are experimenting with attempts to cut down on the absences. There’s little research to go on, and teachers’ unions typically frown on approaches other than improving working conditions.

They and other teacher advocates often argue that abuse of leave is rare, and that the relatively generous benefits available to most public school teachers are needed to attract...