As Denver Public Schools (DPS) began the new school year with around 83,000 students, recent records revealed a significant rise in teacher absenteeism. Teacher absentee days surged from 39,772 in the 2019-20 school year to 68,818 last year, marking a 73% increase. The records indicate most absences were due to sick leave or excused time under the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for serious health issues or family needs. The exact reasons for the increase in absenteeism remain unclear.
