Newark Schools Tackle Chronic Attendance Issue

Newark, NJ – Are you wondering what Newark officials are doing to solve “chronic absenteeism” in the district’s public schools?

On Wednesday, Newark Public Schools Superintendent Christopher Cerf announced the formation of an Attendance Committee comprised of Newark community members and district leaders, which will focus on “reducing absenteeism across Newark Public Schools.”

According to a school news release, students across the district continue to be chronically absent at rates well above the state average, an issue that has lingered for several years.

“High absenteeism directly undermines a child’s learning and academic performance in the classroom, compromising their long-term success,” Cerf stated in a release.

“There are a number of great things happening across our schools, but if a child is not present in the classroom, it makes it difficult for educators to help them succeed,” Cerf stated. “We are committed to doing everything in our power to address this critically important issue. The formation of this committee, in partnership with the broader Newark community, is an important step to better understand why students are chronically absent, and to help design effective community-wide strategies to address this challenge.”

Advocates for Children of New Jersey Executive Director Cecilia Zalkind, whose organization recently released a study on chronic absenteeism across New Jersey school districts, will play a critical role in the effort, according to school administrators.

• See related article: 10 Percent Of Kids Are ‘Chronically Absent’ From School In N.J., Report Says

“The findings in our report signal a call-to-action among district and community leaders,” Zalkind stated. “We are eager to partner with Newark Public Schools and the broader community to address this urgent problem.”

According to school administrators, in addition to the targeted work of school leaders and the attendance committee, the district has initiatives underway to attack the issue - such as the South Ward Community Schools Initiative and the Opportunity Youth Network - that aim to support students and families outside the classroom and improve attendance rates.

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