Employees in K-12 organizations often need to be absent for personal reasons, such as illness or bereavement. But how often are absences for professionally related reasons — those driven by district — or school-level leaders?

Based on three years of data from more than 4,500 K-12 organizations, this report focuses on the incidence and impact of those absences. The report also reviews the level of collaboration across departments around managing absences, based on a survey of nearly 700 school districts.

Key Findings

This report is based on data from more than 4,500 educational organizations and 2.6 million employees in Frontline’s Aesop absence and substitute management system.

 
Frequency of Professionally Related Absences

Nearly 1 in 5 absences are for professionally related reasons. More than half of those absences (and 10% of all absences) are solely for professional development. 

Frequency of Professionally Related Absences

 

 
Absence Lead Time & Fill Rates

Nearly 1/3 of professionally related absences requiring a substitute are reported within 4 days of the absence. As absence lead time shortens, fill rates (the ability to find a substitute) steadily decline. 

Lead Time

 

 
Collaboration Between HR & Instruction

40% of school district personnel say that collaboration between the Human Resources and Curriculum and Instruction departments is rare or non-existent when it comes to managing professionally related absences. 

Collaboration

 

Get the Full Report

Get the full report now to learn:

  • The top reasons for employee absences
  • Whether professionally related absences are increasing or decreasing
  • How often absences are filled by substitutes
  • The impact of absence lead time on fill rates
  • Strategies for increasing collaboration to reduce the impact of absences