Chicago Tribune
To address a devastating pattern of elementary-grade absenteeism in Chicago Public Schools and across the state, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Pat Quinn have thrown their support behind legislation to lower Illinois' compulsory attendance age from 7 to 6 or even 5.
That would put Illinois on par with most states and give school administrators some leverage over parents who can't or won't get their children to school, supporters of the legislation say...