Windham School System Getting 6-Figure Grant Aimed At Boosting Attendance

WINDHAM, CT — The Windham public school system is being awarded a six-figure grant through a statewide program aimed at improving student attendance and engagement.

Gov. Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker announced the award Wednesday.

Windham's share of the $6.2 million purse is $175,000.

The grants are being distributed through the Connecticut State Department of Education's Learner Engagement and Attendance Program, or LEAP. The program uses trained school staff and community partners to work directly with students and families to identify barriers to regular attendance and connect families with resources.

The grants are supported by a $7 million state budget allocation. About $6.2 million will go directly to school districts, while the remaining funding will support statewide LEAP infrastructure, including home visitor training, program implementation and data collection.

According to the state, Connecticut's chronic absenteeism rate has declined for four consecutive years, falling from 23.7 percent in the 2021-22 school year to 16.4 percent in 2025-26.

The state estimates that nearly 35,000 more students are attending school regularly compared with the 2021-22 school year. Officials said LEAP is one part of a broader statewide strategy to improve attendance and student engagement.

The Lamont administration launched LEAP in 2021 using federal COVID-19 relief funding after chronic absenteeism increased during the pandemic. The program was developed around research showing the importance of strengthening relationships between schools, students and families.

LEAP initially served 15 school districts before expanding to 25. The latest grants will bring the program to 29 districts statewide.

Through LEAP, trained home visitors work with students and families to build relationships, identify reasons for absences and connect families with available services and support.

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

An independent evaluation conducted through the Center for Connecticut Education Research Collaboration found that student attendance improved by more than 10 percentage points following a LEAP visit. The evaluation also found a five-percentage-point decline in disciplinary incidents among students who received a LEAP visit.

The program is being implemented in partnership with Attendance Works, a national nonprofit focused on improving student attendance. State partners EdAdvance and the Capitol Region Education Council coordinate with participating districts and provide data tools, home visitor training and technical assistance.

State officials said the expanded investment is intended to help more districts establish direct connections with students and families and address the circumstances that can prevent students from attending school regularly.