News Summary

The Providence Public Schools District has made significant strides in reducing chronic absenteeism, decreasing class-cutting from 36.2% to 29.3%. Despite these improvements, 57% of students remain chronically absent. Rhode Island’s statewide efforts show progress, with a decrease to 22.1% absenteeism, yet challenges persist. Initiatives like the ‘Attendance Matters’ campaign and new attendance guidelines aim to combat the issue, as chronic absenteeism continues to impact students’ academic success and graduation rates.

Providence

The Providence Public Schools District (PPSD) has emerged as a leader in Rhode Island’s effort to reduce chronic absenteeism within its schools. Recent data indicates that the district has successfully decreased class-cutting from 36.2% to 29.3% over the course of the past school year. Despite improvements, the rates of chronic absenteeism in PPSD still reflect a significant challenge, with 57% of students reported as chronically absent during the 2021-2022 school year.

The state of Rhode Island is witnessing a broader decline in chronic absenteeism across its schools. The statewide rate dropped to 22.1% for the 2022-2023 school year, marking an improvement of 2.6 percentage points from the previous year. However, the chronic absenteeism rate has slightly risen to 24.7% in the ongoing 2023-2024 school year, which still represents around 142,360 fewer absences compared to the peak levels recorded.

Governor Dan McKee praised the exceptional progress achieved by the district, citing the successful implementation of the “Attendance Matters” campaign as a vital factor in improving student attendance. Additionally, RIDE Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green attributed the advancements to the collaborative efforts of students, families, educators, and administrators, stressing the importance of these partnerships in tackling the attendance issue.

Chronic absenteeism typically aligns with weekends and holiday breaks, presenting unique challenges for school districts. Furthermore, Rhode Island experienced a peak in chronic absenteeism during the pandemic, reaching 34.1%. Despite a decline in rates for three consecutive years, absenteeism remains above pre-COVID levels of under 20%.

To address chronic absenteeism, Rhode Island has established ambitious targets, aiming for PPSD to lower its rate to below 10%. The district has demonstrated a commendable 27.8 percentage point improvement since its peak during the pandemic. Data shows that students who are chronically absent graduate from high school at a rate of 58.9%, compared to a much higher rate of 96.2% for their peers who maintain consistent attendance.

New attendance guidelines in place urge districts to communicate with families if students miss 10% of classes, as this may hinder their chances of promotion. Schools are now tasked with utilizing available support resources before considering student retention. Research indicates that students who miss numerous school days tend to fall behind academically, which underscores the significance of addressing absenteeism early.

In response to this ongoing issue, the Rhode Island Department of Education has introduced an attendance heat map, designed to identify and track attendance patterns within schools. Additionally, magnetic refrigerator calendars will once again be distributed, following positive feedback from families in previous years as an effective tool for encouraging attendance.

Despite progress, chronic absenteeism within PPSD remains above pre-pandemic levels, with approximately 29% of students categorized as chronically absent in the 2024-2025 academic timeline. Infante-Green has labeled chronic absenteeism a serious concern, indicating that students with poor attendance face academic challenges, particularly in meeting grade-level expectations.

Looking to the future, new initiatives aimed at improving attendance rates and support systems for students facing difficulties in maintaining regular attendance are set to be implemented in 2025. These strategic measures aim to ensure that all students have access to the necessary resources to achieve academic success, thereby fostering a more conducive learning environment throughout the district.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Rhode Island Faces Rise in Chronic Absenteeism Among Students
Portsmouth High School Ranks Among Rhode Island’s Best
Rhode Island School Districts Prepare for New Academic Year
Rhode Island Colleges Shine in Princeton Review Rankings
New Commission Tackles Low Graduation Rates for Foster Youth
Rhode Island Implements Stricter Attendance Policy
Rhode Island Schools End Academic Year Amid Cellphone Ban
Rhode Island Introduces New Attendance Policy for Students

Additional Resources

• ABC6: Providence Schools Tout Drop in Chronic Absenteeism
• Boston Globe: RI Public School Students Chronic Absenteeism
• Providence Journal: For Learning, Nothing Beats Actually Showing Up for Class
• WPRI: Too Many Absences? RI Students May Be Held Back Under New Policy
• Rhode Island Current: K-12 Chronic Absenteeism Rates Decline for Third Consecutive Year in Rhode Island

Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER

The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.