Teacher Absenteeism High In Burr Ridge District

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge School District 180's teacher absenteeism rate was the highest of the three local districts last school year, according to the Illinois Report Card website.

The state measures the percentage of teachers who are absent for at least 10 days. Patch reviewed the rates in 14 area districts.

Locally, Burr Ridge District 180 reported the highest absenteeism rate last school year, with 38 percent who missed at least 10 days. That is similar to the rates in recent years.

The rates in Gower District 62 and Pleasantdale District 107 were 33 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

Those numbers compare to a statewide rate of 34 percent.

In response to a Patch inquiry, District 180 Superintendent Charles Kyle noted the district's rate of teachers who missed 10 or more days dropped by 2 percentage points from the previous school year.

"Several factors contributed to the 2023-2024 percentage, including a number of teachers facing significant health challenges, a maternity leave, and two leaves of absence during the year," Kyle said in an email. "We continuously monitor attendance data and take proactive steps to ensure that qualified substitute teachers are available when teachers are absent."

Meanwhile, Hinsdale High School District 86 saw a big drop in teachers who missed at least 10 days, which was 24 percent last year, down from nearly 50 percent the previous two years.

At Lyons Township High School, the rate was 27 percent last school year, up from 20 percent.

Under state law, the rate excludes absences for professional development, leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, long-term disability or parental leave.

The U.S. Department of Education sees teacher attendance as a leading indicator of student achievement. Teachers with regular attendance provide continuity of instruction and attention to individual students, according to the Illinois Report Card.

"The National Bureau of Economic Research has shown that when teachers are absent for 10 days or more, student outcomes decrease significantly," the report card said. "Teacher absence results in loss of instruction time for students, as well as financial concerns to the district when substitutes must be employed."

Source: Illinois Report Card, 2023-2024