Providence, R.I.: 15% of students were absent 30 or more days last year

Sept 28, 2017, WPRI-TV, Providence, RI: 3,800 Providence students were absent at least 30 days last year http://wpri.com/2017/09/28/3800-providence-students-were-absent-at-least-30-days-last-year1/ The chronic absenteeism rate in Providence public schools soared to 37.6% during the 2016-17 school year, with more than 3,800 students missing at least 30 days of school. An Eyewitness News review of the city’s student attendance data shows chronic absenteeism – defined as missing at least 18 days during any school year – increased by five percentage points last year. Approximately 15% of students were absent for 30 or more days, meaning they missed at least six weeks of classroom time.