attendance improving in csdnb through first 40 days

(NEW BRITAIN, CT) – Attendance is improving in CSDNB through the first 40 days of the school year. This year, the “Every Day Matters” Campaign has focused on celebrating everyday attendance and raising awareness of the importance of every day in a student’s education, with the overarching goal of reducing chronic absenteeism throughout the school district.

Chronic absenteeism has decreased by 4.34% overall from the same time last school year, according to data from CSDNB’s “40 Day Attendance Report.” For returning grade cohorts, chronic absenteeism has decreased 4.56%. Other areas of attendance improvement include:

• 10 out of 13 cohort levels have improved

• 11 out of 12 grade levels have improved

• 16 out of 17 schools have improved

• 431 fewer students are chronically absent

The grade level that has shown the most improvement is 12th grade at 7.07% decrease in chronic absenteeism, followed by 6th grade at 6.76%. The cohort level that has improved the most is the Class of 2021, decreasing chronic absenteeism by 7.62% in 11th grade compared to this time last year in 10th grade.

Amongst all schools in the district, Smalley Elementary has shown the most improvement in decreasing chronic absenteeism by 7.06%. Gaffney Elementary shows the best chronic absenteeism rate in the school district at 7.25%. The Slade KEY program is the specialized program that shows the most improvement in the school district, reducing chronic absenteeism by 26.51%.

Significant improvement in attendance is also shown amongst both English Language Learner student and Special Education student populations. The chronic absenteeism rate has decreased by 11.35% for ELL students and 10.6% for Special Education students through the end of this October as compared to the end of the 2018-19 school year.

“Thank you to our students and families who have committed to being in school every day and thank you to our educators who help make every day impactful,” said Superintendent Nancy Sarra. “As we prepare our students to be ready for work life and beyond, this commitment to BEE here every day continues to develop these lifelong skills. ‘Every Day Matters’ is more than a slogan – it is a mindset for improvement and success. There are many more days ahead for this school year and beyond, and every one of them matters in our student’s continued success.”

Slade KEY Staff : Specialized Program with Most Improved Chronic Absenteeism Rate in CSDNB (26.51% decrease)