I must object to your opening Statement and put the onus on the School District.  One day I was contacted by my son's Chemistry teacher telling me that his grades were hurting because of his absence.  I visited with the teacher as well as the school administration and found he had so many absences he did not adequate 'seat time' to pass.  However, instead of punishing him (detention or study halls) they told me he was passing so they did nothing.  The school doesn't care.  the students don't care.  The parents may not even know!
Our school administration is so bloated that they can't accomplish anything but complain they need more money.  They get the media and parents to clamor for more money but it is the students who suffer.