News Summary
Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy and Achievement First Promesa Academy have achieved remarkable reductions in absenteeism, showcasing significant improvements in student attendance. With chronic absenteeism in Rhode Island declining overall, these charter schools recorded around 20% attendance rates, demonstrating effective engagement strategies. The statewide chronic absenteeism rate is now at 22.1%, reflecting proactive measures that emphasize community involvement and student support. Despite improvements, challenges remain in addressing long-term absenteeism, necessitating ongoing efforts from all stakeholders to enhance student engagement and academic success.
Providence – Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy, together with Achievement First Promesa Academy, has made significant strides in tackling absenteeism in the 2024-25 school year, achieving one of the largest decreases in chronic absenteeism in Rhode Island amidst a statewide trend of improvement. As the chronic absenteeism rate across Rhode Island public schools has dropped for the third consecutive year, these charter schools stand out by recording attendance rates that are now around 20%, showing a strong commitment to student participation.
Rhode Island’s chronic absenteeism rate fell by 2.6 percentage points to 22.1% for the 2024-25 academic year, down from 24.7% the previous year. This reduction indicates a positive trend in improving student engagement statewide. The Providence Public School District (PPSD) reported a chronic absenteeism rate of 29.3%, which, while still above the state average, reflects a notable decline of 6.9 percentage points from the prior year. This rate marks the lowest level since the 2019-20 school year and is a significant improvement from a peak of 57.1% during the 2021-22 academic year.
The consistent rise of chronic absenteeism rates across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused educational leaders to prioritize re-engaging students. The declines in absenteeism for both Achievement First academies and PPSD are attributed to proactive measures such as improved student monitoring, family and community engagement, and intervention strategies. Each school has implemented dedicated attendance teams responsible for tracking absences and maintaining communication with families to foster accountability and support.
Additionally, the PPSD has initiated an attendance “hero” campaign aimed at encouraging students to regularly attend school. These efforts include a focus on delivering excellent instruction, with the understanding that effectively teaching students is contingent upon their presence in the classroom. The campaign has led to approximately 142,360 fewer absences in the 2024-25 academic year, highlighting that support systems and engagement are crucial to making these gains.
Despite these improvements, chronic absenteeism remains a pressing issue, particularly as rates in Rhode Island still exceed pre-pandemic levels of under 20%. To address this, the state has introduced new guidelines for public schools, which include notifying families if their children miss 10% of classes and implementing proactive measures like tutoring and social services before considering retention due to attendance issues. The urgency of tackling chronic absenteeism is underscored by the significant gap in graduation rates for students who experience high absenteeism compared to their peers.
The Achievement First network prioritizes a sense of belonging among students to foster commitment to attendance. National discussions regarding the impact of charter schools indicate concerns around the dynamics of family engagement. Some claim that charter schools may attract more engaged families, potentially leaving traditional public schools with fewer resources for student support. In response, Rhode Island state leaders, including Governor Dan McKee’s district representatives, have reiterated their commitment to addressing chronic absenteeism through collaborative efforts with families, educators, and community organizations.
As part of continued efforts to improve student attendance, schools are adopting innovative tools, such as distributing magnetic refrigerator calendars to families and employing attendance heatmaps that provide real-time data on absences at various levels, including school, district, and state. The measures implemented represent a comprehensive approach aimed at tackling chronic absenteeism in Rhode Island, identifying the need for ongoing support and engagement from all stakeholders involved in students’ educational journeys.
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Additional Resources
- Brown Daily Herald
- Wikipedia: Chronic Absenteeism
- Rhode Island Current
- Google Search: Chronic Absenteeism Rhode Island
- Providence Journal
- Google Scholar: Chronic Absenteeism Rhode Island
- WPRI
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education Attendance
- WPRI Education News
- Google News: Chronic Absenteeism Rhode Island
Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF 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.
