Low Teacher Absenteeism At Western Springs D101

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs School District 101 reported the second lowest teacher absenteeism rate among area districts.

Last school year, 10 percent of District 101's teachers were absent at least 10 days, compared with 36 percent statewide, according to the Illinois Report Card website. The local rate was the same as the previous year.

Meanwhile, Lyons Township High School reported a rate of 20 percent of teachers who were missing at least 10 days, down from 37 percent a year earlier.

Patch reviewed the rates in 30 area districts.

Only Pleasantdale District 107's rate was lower than Western Springs', with none of its teachers absent for at least 10 days.

Under state law, the rate does not include 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, 2022-2023