The Chicago Public School system is set to close or consolidate several schools this year many because of low performance. And a recent study appearing in Education Week suggested that poor student achievement may be due, partly, to teacher absences. The study then finds that teacher attendance started improving once a new policy allowed principals to dismiss chronically absent teachers more easily than they had in the past. That study is written by Education Researcher Brian Jacob. He explains the study and how its results might reflect what’s happening in Chicago.

Music Button: Four Tet, “She Just Likes to Fight”, from the CD There Is Love In You, (Domino)