Philly’s hidden school attendance problem
The Philadelphia School District boasts about increasing attendance rates. But at Edison High School, some students are swiping in, then cutting class.
Listen 14:41
Students spill out of Thomas A. Edison High School at the end of the school day. Students who swipe their identification cards in the morning are considered present for the whole day — even when they cut class. (TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer)
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The School District of Philadelphia boasts about its improved attendance numbers as a sign of success. But at Edison High School, students are swiping in, getting marked present, and then cutting class. Jessica Calefati, an investigative reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer, explains why it’s a sign of deeper attendance problems throughout the district.
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