Did you know that the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) changed the accountability system? Our schools are not only rated on academic achievement and student behavior, but also on student and teacher attendance. RIDE is now using our daily attendance for students and teachers as a data point in holding us accountable for our student performance.

One of the new data sources in RIDE's accountability formula is chronic absenteeism for students and teachers. Student Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of days or more, which is 18 days or more over a full school year.

In the past our schools were rated as commended schools the highest ranking you can receive by the Rhode Island Department of Education. The new accountability system ranks schools out of five stars. This year Melrose School received 5 out of 5 stars And the Lawn school received 4 out of 5 stars. It is our goal to sustain this rating with RIDE and to continually improve our schools. However, we need your help as parents.

Research indicates students who attend school regularly achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. Students who are chronically absent (missing more than 10% of the school year), are more likely to be off-track than on-track when they enter high school. It is our expectation that all students will have illnesses, but other than illnesses or doctor appointments students should be in school.