Low-Income Kids Widely Absent From Pre-K

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Cities are spending millions of dollars on early education for their neediest children; but in many places, those kids are not showing up.

In the District of Columbia's preschool program, a quarter of the low-income kids missed more than 10% last year, the equivalent of a month's worth of preschool classes and, in Chicago, almost a third of 4-year-olds missed 10% of school days, the threshold for being chronically absent.

Since children are not required to attend pre-K, parents cannot be compelled to send their kids regularly and on time. In Baltimore, social workers go to homes to overcome challenges of transportation and health.

"Success Mentors" work with families in New York and in Tulsa, attendance plans are created for preschoolers, who miss 20% of program time.

Education Week reports a study showing Mondays and Fridays, when school was half-day, and in January, a cold month and in June, as more likely days of absences as expected.