Woody Allen once said 80% of success in life is just showing up.

Although 80% seems high, showing up is certainly the bare minimum for success, and even by that low standard our educational system is failing.

Last year, according to a report just issued by the Manhattan Institute, more than a third of New York City’s public-school students were chronically absent, meaning more than 10% of the time.

And more than 39% of low-income and minority students and English language learners were chronically absent.

In other words, those students who most need to attend school regularly are attending it the least.

Sadly, the pandemic contributed greatly to this problem.