The chart below shows the percentage of teachers absent 10 or fewer days in a school year for Quincy Public Schools compared to the percentage in the state of Illinois (source: Illinois State Report Card). Teacher attendance is a “leading indicator” of student achievement, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Teachers with regular attendance provide continuity of instruction and attention to individual students. The National Bureau of Economic Research has shown that when teachers are absent for 10 days or more, student outcomes decrease significantly. Teacher absence results in loss of instruction time for students, as well as financial concerns to the district when substitutes must be employed.