Duarte : Unexcused Absences Cut

The Duarte Unified School District announced that it has greatly reduced the number of unexcused student absences at Duarte High School. There were 636 for the first two months of this academic year, compared to 1,664 for the same period last year. This has resulted in an increase of $13,600 in state aid, which is based directly on daily attendance.

Assistant Supt. David Kanthak said the district hired a counselor who works with parents of students with a high absentee rate and operates a guidance clinic for those students. He said this has reduced the number of suspensions as well as unexcused absences.