Final DRAFT - IJWC Spring 2022 Issue


 

 

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International Journal of the Whole Child                                         
2022, VOL. 7, NO. 1         

                                                                       
Education by the Numbers   
Donald Sneada   
 
aMiddle Tennessee State University  
 
Donald Snead (B.S.in Natural Science, M.A. Teaching in Curriculum & Instruction, Ed.D. 
Curriculum & Instruction in Science Education) is the Interim Department Chair and Professor 
in the Educational Leadership Department at Middle Tennessee State University. Committed to a 
social constructivist philosophy, he teaches courses in curriculum, leadership, and research 
methods. Dr. Snead is an inductee into the Kentucky Distinguished Educators Cadre. His 
research interests focus on improving learning for all students. 
 
Several factors contribute to student success and achievement.  Students’ attendance has been 
shown to affect students’ success in school (Hanson, 2020).  However, it appears that less 
attention is given to how teacher absentees affect student success (Hanson, 2020).   
 
Research shows that teachers are the most important in school factor for student learning 
(Hanson, 2020).  Teacher attendance is directly related to student achievement. For example, 
Miller, Murnane, and Willett (2008) assessed that 10 additional days of teacher absences reduced 
achievement in mathematics of fourth grade students by 3.2% of a standard deviation. Moreover, 
they found that 10 days of teacher absences resulted in some students’ designation in the state 
proficiency system to be lowered (Miller, Murnane, & Willett, 2008). This data suggests 
teachers’ absences can lead to learning loss for students.  What does the numbers say about 
teacher absences? 
 

Teacher Absences 
 Reasons Percentages 
 Sick Leave 52% 
 Personal Leave 23% 
 Professional Leave 18% 
 Other 7% 
   

Categorizing Teacher Absences based on 187 working days/year 
   

Chronically Absent 18 or more days (22days average) 10% 
Frequent 11-17 days/year 25% 
Moderate 4-10 days/year 47% 
Excellent 0-3 days/year 18% 

   



 

 

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References 

Clotfelter, C. T., Ladd, H. F., & Vigdor, J. L. (2009).  Are teacher absences worth worrying  
about in the United States.  Education Finance and Policy 4(2), 115-149. 

Hansen, M., & Quintero, D. (2020).  We should be focusing on absenteeism among teachers, not 
just students.  Brooking Institution.  Retrieved from 
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2020/01/27/we-should-be-
focusing-on-absenteeism-among-teachers-not-just-students/ Retrieved on May 6, 2022.  

 Miller, R. T., Murnane, R. J., & Willett, J.B. (2008). Do teacher absences impact student  
achievement? Longitudinal evidence from one urban school district. Educational 
Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 30(2), 181-200. Retrieved from 
http://www.nber.org/papers/w13356.pdf  

Miller, R. T., Murnane, R. J., & Willett, J.B. (2008). Do worker absences affect productivity?  
The case of teachers. International Labor Review, 147(1)71-89. Retrieved from 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1564-913X.2008.00024x