Truancy most critical and frightening statistic impacting on education of Buffalo schools children

On Buffalo News live chat Tuesday, Phil Rumore, President of Buffalo Teachers Federation said,

"Perhaps what is the most critical and frightening statistic impacting on the education of our kids is the truancy, e.g., 30 to 37 percent of our high school students are absent over 38 days. That's over seven weeks. Similarly in the elementary schools, 43 percent of our kindergarten students are absent four to seven weeks. Ten percent of our K-6 students are absent four to five weeks. There is nothing more important than addressing the staggering absenteeism. You can have the best programs, personnel, etc., however, if the students aren't in school, nothing will improve. Unfortunately, the district doesn't seem to share our view of the urgency of this issue."