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Sunday, January 07, 2001
Teachers in Pennsylvania's poorest school districts are absent more often than teachers at the state's wealthiest districts. Nationwide studies show that at-risk students spend more time without their teachers and with lesser-qualified substitutes. 1997 figures.
POOREST SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Poverty Rate*
Teacher Absentee Rate**
Farrell Area
42.5%
5.2%
Aliquippa
40.3%
6.1%
Fannett-Metal
37.7%
3.2%
Midland Borough
35.6%
9.0%
York City
35.0%
4.8%
Brownsville Area
34.8%
6.6%
Reading
34.5%
4.2%
Harmony Area
33.7%
4.0%
Salisbury-Elk Lick
32.3%
12.6%
Duquesne City
31.9%
6.6%
RICHEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Poverty Rate*
Teacher Absentee Rate**
South Middleton
1.1%
3.8%
Penn-Delco
1.3%
4.1%
Northwestern Lehigh
1.4%
4.8%
Daniel Boone Area
1.5%
3.1%
Tredyffrin-Easttown
1.5%
5.5%
Derry Township
1.6%
3.4%
North Allegheny
1.6%
3.9%
Unionville-Chadds Ford
1.6%
4.9%
Parkland
1.7%
5.0%
Wyomissing
1.7%
3.4%
*Rate of school-age children living in poverty, U.S. Census Bureau. 1997 poverty threshold is $16,400 for a family of four.
**Includes only sick days or "mental health days," not staff development or "in-service" days. Figure is percentage of school work days.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Pa. Dept. of Education
(James Hilston, Post-Gazette)