This report develops proposals for improving teacher attendance, reducing expenditures for the use of substitute teachers, and for developing alternatives to hiring substitute teachers in New York City. The study was undertaken in order to find ways to reduce the magnitude of substitute teacher costs. The report identifies the types and rates of absence and documents the present absence approval and reporting system and teacher assignment policies. Major findings include: no apparent relationship between a teacher's rate of absence and his performance rating, the rate of discretionary absence is generally twice as high as the rate for illnesses requiring a medical certificate, teacher discretionary absence rates are approximately 21 percent higher for Mondays and Fridays than for other school days, discretionary absence rates are 29 percent higher in Title I elementary schools than in other elementary schools, and those schools with a higher percentage of teachers with more than five years service show a higher absence rate from illnesses requiring medical certificates. (Author/DN)