Before NCLB, I received timely and invaluable information on whether each student's absence was excused due to illness, counseling, legal, or other family matters. Now, a new computer code is created to hide absences whenever there is the need to keep honest information from going up the chain of command. Robert Balfanz' new study "Building a Grad Nation," seeks to use attendance data in early warning systems to help students - as opposed to making accountability numbers look good. But
