A successful program to improve personnel attendance has reduced sick leave in 40 New Jersey school districts without increasing dismissals, grievances, or costs. The author describes the five steps in this Attendance Improvement Program (AIP), including (1) analysis of data on staff absences due to illness; (2) preparation of operating guidelines…

Techniques that reduced teacher absences from 8.7 to 7.6 per year in the Milwaukee Public Schools are described in this report. The techniques include (1) information, in each new teacher's orientation kit, on the district's attitude toward good attendance, (2) articles about sick leave in the staff bulletin, (3) periodic reminders and training…