Chicago Schools CEO Vows To Address Truancy Problem
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's public schools chief is promising to tackle a major truancy problem.
Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett says she and her staff must find a way to reduce the number of students skipping school.
The Chicago Tribune found that in the 2010-2011 school year, nearly 32,000 elementary school students missed four or more weeks of classes.
"It was one of the very first things that I said to our team, 'We have to absolutely take a look at this,' '' said Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett.
"I didn't have any data at my disposal at that moment, but knowing and having worked in systems similar to Chicago, I know that's an issue."
State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, who chairs the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, said she wants to find a way to get more students to stop missing school.
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