Groton To Receive $85K From State To Support Student Attendance

GROTON, CT — Groton Public Schools will receive $85,000 from the state to support a program aimed at improving student attendance and engagement.

The funding is part of approximately $6.2 million being awarded to 29 school districts through Connecticut's Learner Engagement and Attendance Program, or LEAP, Gov. Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker announced.

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LEAP uses trained school staff and community partners to connect directly with students and families through home visits. The program is designed to identify barriers contributing to absences and connect families with resources that can help students attend school consistently.

Connecticut launched LEAP in 2021 after chronic absenteeism increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. State officials said chronic absenteeism has declined for four consecutive years, falling from 23.7% during the 2021-22 school year to 16.4% in 2025-26.

Since the program began, home visitors have conducted about 88,000 visits and reached approximately 53,000 students statewide.

An independent evaluation found attendance improved by more than 10 percentage points after a LEAP visit, according to the state.

The Groton grant is part of a $7 million state budget allocation for LEAP. Funding not awarded directly to school districts will support training, program implementation and data collection.