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McNamarra Bill Would Create Attendance Review Teams for Absentee Prone Schools

Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston)
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston)

Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the Legislative Press and Public Information Bureau.

STATE HOUSE — In an effort to combat a growing trend in school absenteeism, Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) has introduced legislation that would create attendance review teams in districts and schools where an absenteeism problem has been identified.

The bill (2018-H 7040) would direct the state Department of Education to establish a chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention plan by Jan. 1, 2019.

“Students who are frequently absent are far more likely to miss important learning opportunities, are less likely to stay engaged, and are of far greater risk of dropping out,” said Representative McNamara, who chairs the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee. “According to the most recent Kids Count Factbook, 22 percent of middle school students and 32 percent of high school students were considered truant by the Department of Education, which defines truancy as 10 or more unexcused absences in a school year. This legislation would strongly combat this troubling trend.”

The bill would require an attendance review team in any school district with a chronic absenteeism rate of 10 percent or greater. It would also require a team at any individual school with a chronic absenteeism rate of 15 percent or greater.

“These attendance review teams, which would meet at least once a month, would specifically investigate the reasons for the absenteeism,” said Representative McNamara. “We need to develop a community response that does a better job of interacting among students, teachers and parents, not only identifying what works in reducing absenteeism, but what doesn’t work. Identifying strategies that improve attendance has to be part of any school intervention.”

The act would also direct the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education to include each school district’s absenteeism rate within the report on school discipline that is presented annually to the General Assembly, and to include the school or district’s absenteeism rate in any report card or evaluation of the effectiveness of a school or district.

The legislation, which is cosponsored by Representatives William W. O’Brien (D-Dist. 54, North Providence), Joseph J. Solomon Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Warwick), Julie Casimiro (D-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) and Robert B. Lancia (R-Dist. 16, Cranston), has been referred to the House Committee on Health Education and Welfare.

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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