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A recent report from the Center for American Progress finds the teacher absenteeism rate in Arizona is slightly below the national average. The report measures the percentage of teachers who were absent for 10 days or more during the 2009-2010 school year. 

In Arizona, the rate was 34.1 percent, a bit better than the national average of 36 percent.

Utah had the lowest absentee rate, about 21 percent. Rhode Island had the worst, with slightly more than half of its teachers missing 10 or more days.

Report author Raegen Miller told the Cronkite News Service the 10 days or more measurement is more or less arbitrary; and despite some criticism, Miller says the report is meant to create a conversation about how teachers missing work can harm students.