I very much appreciate the info, thank you.  But I'm not sure how funding in this case affects attendence?   Will somebody suggest more money will fix the problem, oh yea, I'm sure it will happen.   

What I'm suggesting is that much of Oregon's culture does not welcome even mild discipline, nor the intellectual curiosity that leads to problem solving and creative solutions.      The 'basics' that should be in place by sixth grade aren't even complete, let alone getting HS kids for either work or college - both of which require showing up every day.

A failure to address this is in large part of failure of parents.     It is doesn't help when you have a 'no fail, pass them forward for esteem' reason either.    The 100% graduation rate is NOT an educational goal, it's administrators goal and it's so ridiculously that no one believes it possible - and it leads to soft standards.