Rhode Island parents should be aware of a big change coming to schools across the state next academic year. Starting in the 2025–2026 school year, all public school districts will follow the same statewide attendance policy. This decision was made by the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education in early May 2025 and is designed to create more consistent standards for attendance while tackling chronic absenteeism among students.
Under the new rules, if a student is absent for more than 10% of the school year, they will be officially marked as “chronically absent.” In simpler terms, this means that if a student misses 18 or more days in a typical 180-day school year, they will fall under this category. These absences include both excused and unexcused types—such as illness, family emergencies, or vacations.
The policy applies to all students from kindergarten through high school. It also sets the stage for schools to take action early if a student is falling behind due to poor attendance. If a student is on track to hit the 10% mark, schools must intervene by communicating with families, identifying the reasons behind the absences, and working on a plan to get the student back on track. However, the policy does not introduce punishments like grade retention or denial of credit based on absences alone. Instead, the goal is to support families before things get worse.
This new system replaces the previous situation where each school district had its own rules, which led to confusion and uneven expectations. Now, the same rules will apply across every district in Rhode Island. The change is also in line with federal education guidelines, which consider chronic absenteeism a serious issue affecting student performance and school ratings.
According to state education officials, this move is especially important because chronic absenteeism has been rising since the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students have struggled to return to regular attendance patterns, and the state wants to address the root causes before they lead to long-term academic setbacks. In fact, state data shows that students who miss too many days are more likely to fall behind in reading, math, and graduation requirements.
Teachers and principals will now be trained to track attendance more closely and follow up with students who are at risk. Schools are also being encouraged to improve parent communication and make it easier for families to understand the importance of regular school attendance. In addition, schools must collect data on the number of chronically absent students and report it publicly to ensure accountability.
While this policy does bring stricter monitoring, it also recognizes that not all absences are the same. For example, a student with a long-term medical condition can still receive support and not be penalized for missing school, as long as there is clear documentation and a recovery plan in place. The policy allows flexibility in such cases, showing that the state aims to balance discipline with empathy.
Some parents are concerned that the policy may add pressure to already stressed families, especially those with health concerns or transportation challenges. However, education officials argue that the new rule is not meant to punish families, but to provide a structure for offering help. They say early outreach from schools can prevent attendance issues from growing into bigger problems.
Overall, the idea is to create equal standards for every student, no matter where they live or which school they attend. With clearer guidelines and more support from schools, the state hopes to bring attendance levels back to normal and give every student a fair chance at academic success.
For more details about the new attendance policy, parents can visit the Rhode Island Department of Education website. You can also learn more about the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education and its decisions at the RI Secretary of State portal, where public meeting summaries and policies are posted.
