The Editor’s Note

Abstract

Whirlpool Corp.’s Care Counts program places washers and dryers into schools with chronic absenteeism in an effort to improve attendance. During the 2015-16 school year, the company’s pilot program placed machines in 17 U.S. schools. At David Weir K-8 Preparatory Academy in Fairfield, Calif., the rate of chronic absenteeism dropped from 20% — students who missed 10% or more of school days — to 10% after one year. The experience of Weir is told through the eyes of principal Martha Lacy.