Rhode Island rep targets chronic absenteeism with package of bills

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The chairman of the house education committee is trying to focus attention on chronic school absenteeism in Rhode Island.

Representative Joseph McNamara has introduced a package of four bills to help curb some of those issues.

McNamara believes it’s a national issue with 47 percent of high school students and 39 percent of middle school students considered chronically absent by the Department of Education.

Two of the bills suggest adding a pilot program that would track absenteeism in a variety of public schools around the state.

Another bill would direct school agencies to adopt a chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention plan by 2025.

This would identify students who frequently miss class and help them before it becomes a chronic issue.