As Denver Public Schools welcomed approximately 83,000 students this week, new records reveal a significant rise in teacher absenteeism over the past three years. 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 that most absences were due to sick leave or Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) reasons, which cover serious health issues and family care, though the exact causes of the increase remain unclear.
