New data shows a nearly 10 percentage point drop in chronic absenteeism statewide since the height of the pandemic; media campaign to feature new bus advertisements, commercials, video series, and more 

PROVIDENCE – As Rhode Island families prepare to wrap up summer break, Governor Dan McKee, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, and the Rhode Island Department of Education joined parents, officials, educators, students, and community leaders at the Rhode Island State House to kick off the Attendance Matters RI campaign for the 2024-2025 school year and announce notable strides in reducing chronic absenteeism statewide. 

While emphasizing that more work remains ahead to continue to curb chronic absenteeism, under the statewide, cross-sector campaign, chronic absenteeism during the 2023-2024 school year declined approximately 4.2 percentage points, bringing the statewide chronic absenteeism rate from 28.9% in school year 2022-2023 to 24.7%. This represents 244,375 fewer absences, achieving a nearly 10 percentage point drop from the 2021-2022 school year when 34.1% of students were chronically absent statewide. This reduction in absences represents approximately 1,344,063 additional learning hours for Rhode Island students. 

The latest data shows that 57 of 64 local education agencies (LEAs) have decreased their chronic absenteeism rates with 89% seeing an improvement. At the school level, 241 of 294 schools, accounting for 82%, have seen a decrease. The largest decrease was seen at the elementary school level with a 5.1 percentage point reduction, followed by grades 9-12 which saw a 3.6 percentage point reduction, and grades 6-8 which saw a 3.4 percentage point decrease. 

Rhode Island’s attendance efforts are garnering national recognition. The latest data and trends were spotlighted today by FutureEd, an independent, solution-oriented think tank at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, in its report entitled Team Sport: Rhode Island’s Statewide Strategy for Reducing Chronic Absenteeism.

“A message made clear throughout the Attendance Matters RI campaign is that education is a shared responsibility. The active involvement of families and the broader community is essential to the success of our students and health of our education system,” said Governor Dan McKee. “These collective efforts have not only reduced chronic absenteeism but also fostered a culture of commitment and responsibility towards education, paving the way for improved academic outcomes and student success statewide in line with my Learn365RI priorities. We share our gratitude with the students, educators, school, district, and municipal leaders, and everyone in our community who has taken an active role in this campaign that has resulted in more than 1,344,000 more hours of learning amongst Rhode Island students.”

Rhode Island defines chronic absenteeism as the percentage of students who miss 10% or more of school days during the year (or two days per month). Chronic absenteeism soared during the pandemic, and states around the country are working diligently to reduce this rate to below pre-pandemic numbers. Rhode Island’s chronic absenteeism rate pre-pandemic was around 19%, underscoring that while progress has been made, sustained efforts are needed this upcoming school year. 

“Through Attendance Matters RI, we have seen many community members put tremendous effort into promoting regular attendance. Schools, families, and community organizations have come together to create an environment where consistent attendance is valued and prioritized. Initiatives have been implemented to address barriers to attendance, and we are proud to share that this work has resulted in a decline in chronic absenteeism,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “However, our responsibility doesn’t end with getting students into school; it extends to ensuring they are actively engaged in their learning once they are there. This means providing stimulating and relevant educational experiences, fostering a supportive and inclusive classroom environment, and addressing the individual needs of each student. By working together to keep students in school and fully engaged in their education, we are building a foundation for their future success and wellbeing.”

Providence Public Schools saw the sharpest decrease in chronic absenteeism among the largest school districts in the state, declining by 12.1 percentage points from school year 2022-2023, from 48.4% to 36.2%. The latest data shows a 20.9 percentage point decline since school year 2021-2022 when PPSD saw its highest chronic absenteeism rate at 57.1%. PPSD’s chronic absenteeism rate for school year 2023-2024 also marks a significant milestone for the District as it is below the pre-pandemic level of 37.3% in school year 2018-2019. 

“Reducing chronic absenteeism is not just about getting students into classrooms; it's about creating an environment where they are eager to learn and grow,” said PPSD Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. “In Providence, we've seen firsthand the power of collaboration between educators, families, and community partners in fostering a culture of attendance. Our efforts are yielding results, but we remain committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed. By continuing to prioritize attendance, Providence Public Schools is laying the foundation for a brighter future for our students and our state.”

“As a retired educator, I know how limited time is when it comes to teaching students all the concepts they need to master in their grade. Every day truly is precious,” said House Education Committee Chairman Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston). “I’m so appreciative of all the work that has gone into achieving the attendance improvements we celebrated today, and I look forward to continuing the effort so that every student in Rhode Island has the classroom time they need to succeed in school. Governor McKee’s focus on attendance has made Rhode Island a national leader, one that has been held up as an example for other states to emulate.”

Ahead of the school year, RIDE announced new efforts within the Attendance Matters RI [attendancemattersri.org] media campaign, including bus advertisements, commercials, radio spots, and a printable calendar for families that will help them track their students’ attendance. A series of videos, made possible by the Partnership for Rhode Island [partnershipforrhodeisland.com], feature Rhode Islanders sharing their own stories of attendance and education. New featured individuals include local students, educators, Secretary of State and longtime educator Gregg Amore, retired NBC 10 WJAR news anchor Frank Coletta, and other familiar faces. Additionally, RIDE launched a new animated video that aims to raise families’ awareness of the impact of chronic absenteeism. Watch the new videos on RIDE’s YouTube and social media.

“From K-12 education to infrastructure and workforce development, the Partnership for Rhode Island is committed to helping build a stronger Rhode Island,” said Partnership for Rhode Island Executive Director Tom Giordano. “Education and promoting good attendance are at the core of our focus because our future is in the hands of our students and the data is clear that they cannot succeed if they are not in school consistently. We are pleased to see that with our support Rhode Island is making progress in reducing chronic absenteeism statewide.”

With a focus on transparency and raising the public’s awareness, RIDE offers new and enhanced data dashboards that provide a comprehensive overview of attendance and absenteeism rates across a variety of demographics and feature real-time reporting capabilities and interactive visualizations. With detailed data analysis, schools and other stakeholders have been able to pinpoint the students most at risk of chronic absenteeism and develop targeted interventions to address their unique needs. Explore the data dashboards which have been recognized nationally here. In addition to these dashboards, schools have access to the Attendance Nudge Tool, which is a mobile application that allows principals to communicate with families when student absences become a concern. Piloted in East Providence, the Attendance Tool is now used in nearly every local education agency.

“The Rhode Island League of Cities & Towns and its mayors, managers, and administrators are committed to our students and increasing attendance in our schools,” said Mayor Charles Lombardi.

Further, to curb chronic absenteeism, Commissioner Infante-Green convened the Chronic Absenteeism Working Group, which is made up of a diverse body of stakeholders from various sectors, including but not limited to education, health, government, business, and community organizations. The Working Group is collaborating with RIDE on policies and regulations to guide and support districts and assisting in the promotion of the Attendance Matters RI messaging.

“As a teacher, I've seen firsthand how chronic absenteeism can impact the entire class. When students frequently miss school, they fall behind, which affects not only their own learning but also the overall pace and progress of the class,” said 2025 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year Milissa O’Neil. “This is why I have made it my focus to increase students’ sense of belonging every day in my class. From meeting classroom responsibilities to excelling in coursework and building friendships, data shows that ensuring students feel valued and engaged makes a real impact.”

By fostering a culture of regular attendance, Rhode Island has not only seen a positive impact on student performance but also served as a model for other states – and even countries – seeking to address similar challenges. The success of these initiatives has been highlighted in various educational forums, national media outlets, and even the White House, where Governor McKee and Commissioner Infante-Green discussed Rhode Island’s strategy at the Every Day Counts Summit in May 2024. This spring, educational experts and policymakers from the United Kingdom also took interest in Rhode Island's initiatives, viewing them as a potential blueprint for addressing attendance issues in their own schools. 

At the heart of our attendance efforts is the dedicated work happening on the ground in Rhode Island schools. School staff are tirelessly implementing strategies to improve student attendance, creating welcoming and supportive environments that encourage regular participation. To bolster these efforts, RIDE is committed to providing comprehensive support through technical assistance, webinars, and other resources. These supports equip school staff with the tools and knowledge they need to effectively address attendance challenges, share best practices, and stay informed about the latest research. 

View the suite of dashboards here. The Historical Absences dashboard allows the public to take a deep dive into chronic absenteeism rates by year, local education agency, school, grade span, student subgroup, and more. Sign up for the quarterly Attendance Matters RI newsletter by emailing [email protected]. 

To see Aug 6th's presentation please click here.