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PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) — Oregon lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that addresses the high rate of chronic absenteeism in the state's schools.
The Oregonian reports (http://bit.ly/1KB1M54 ) that business and education leaders told the House Education Committee Wednesday that schools do little to intervene despite 94,000 students missing at least 10 percent of the school year.
The committee approved a bipartisan bill that would direct the Department of Education to come up with a plan to reduce chronic absenteeism before December. The bill now heads to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
Two Republicans on the nine-member education committee voted against the bill, citing doubts that the education department could make a real difference on the ground in schools.
An investigation by the Oregonian found that frequent absenteeism can have devastating consequences, including reduced graduation rates.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com
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