The endless discussions of how to make better schools, and therefore better students, focus largely on what happens within the school walls.
And that could present a particular problem for Oregon, since many of its students are frequently not there.
Nationwide studies of school attendance show Oregon among the worst in absenteeism... kids miss a lot of school.
The pro-attendance group Attendance Works keeps an eye on the situation, which comes down to a clear formula: less school=less achievement in reading and math.
We visit with a member of the group about options for turning the situation around.