Spare no effort to curb truancy

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 28, 2012

~~<p>ll the effort by Hawaii's officials to boost the value of a public school education — pushing for more highly qualified teachers, more consistency and rigor in curriculum and standards — is sadly diminished by a growing problem with absenteeism. The best possible teachers in the classroom can't reach the students whose seats are empty, day after day.</p>
<p>The state Department of Education has stepped up its surveillance of students, flagging them before they fall hopelessly far behind. And backed by support from parents and the larger community, educators must intercede early when problems arise and search for approaches that can bring chronically absent students back to the fold.</p>
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ll the effort by Hawaii's officials to boost the value of a public school education — pushing for more highly qualified teachers, more consistency and rigor in curriculum and standards — is sadly diminished by a growing problem with absenteeism. The best possible teachers in the classroom can't reach the students whose seats are empty, day after day.

The state Department of Education has stepped up its surveillance of students, flagging them before they fall hopelessly far behind. And backed by support from parents and the larger community, educators must intercede early when problems arise and search for approaches that can bring chronically absent students back to the fold. Login for more...