Stats That Stick: June 22, 2011

Home-schooling has grown to reach about 2 million children—or 3 percent of the school-age population, up from 850,000 in 1999.–New York Times 

1 in 15 elementary students throughout New York were absent on any given day this year, compared to 1 in 13 four years ago and 1 in 9 in 1995.–New York Times

So far in 2011, eighteen states have seen new schools chiefs come into office, and six other states are currently conducting searches for new leaders, according to the Council of Chief State School Officers.–Education Week

Large proportions of minority men aged 15 to 24 with high school diplomas were unemployed—34% of black men, 47% of Latinos, 39% of Native Americans and 30% of Asian Americans.–College Board

The unemployment rate might be closer to 8 percent than today’s 9.1 percent if idle workers had the skills to fill jobs that are open.–Economist Harry Holzer of Georgetown University