study of the relationship between teacher absenteeism, teacher attributes, school schedule and student achievement

The purpose of this non-experimental archival study was to determine if student mathematics in middle and high schools could be predicted by teacher absenteeism. Additional relationships, such as teacher absenteeism, selected attributes and student achievement; teacher absenteeism, school schedule and student achievement were investigated. This archival study was conducted in Broward County Public Schools, Florida, for the 2001--2002 school year and included 722 mathematics classes with their teachers in eighth and tenth grades. The study addressed 3 research questions. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to test each hypothesis. All statistical tests were performed at the .05 level of statistical significance. The following conclusions were reached regarding teacher absenteeism and student achievement: (1) Teacher absenteeism, beyond 2 days, has a small negative effect on achievement test scores, p = .007. (2) Mathematics background in elementary and middle school has a large positive effect on achievement test scores, p < .001. (3) Teacher attributes, except gender, are not linked to achievement test scores. The interaction between male teachers and teacher absenteeism has a small negative effect for more than 2 days absent, p = .02. (4) School schedule is not linked to achievement test scores. Further research is needed on the effect of absenteeism on student achievement, the effect of absenteeism on other student outcomes, and the effect of teacher gender on student achievement.