Teacher Absences Up In Burr Ridge Schools

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge's three elementary school districts all saw big increases in absenteeism among teachers last school year, reflecting a statewide trend.

According to the Illinois Report Card website, 34 percent of teachers across the state were away from the classroom 10 or more days over the school year. That jumped from 14 percent the previous year.

Locally, Gower District 62 was the highest, at 36 percent, up from 14 percent the year before. Burr Ridge District 180 was at 35 percent, up from 19 percent. And Pleasantdale District 107 was way below the state average, at 20 percent, up from 7 percent.

All the local districts were lower than Hinsdale High School District 86, which was at 47 percent of teachers with 10 or more days absent. District 86 was tied for the second highest among 30 area districts, according to state figures.

Under state law, the absence 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 or more days, 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, 2021-2022