The New Haven Board of Education received a district presentation showing substantial decreases in chronic absenteeism and heard how a Freshman Academy at Wilbur Cross is designed to sustain that progress.

Superintendent Dr. Negron introduced Dr. Gemma Joseph Lumpkin, chief of youth, family and community engagement, who said chronic absenteeism—defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year—has fallen in New Haven from 58.1% (2022) to 32.1% in the 2024–25 school year, based on a state learning-engagement report the district cited. Dr. Joseph Lumpkin said that the district’s initiatives moved approximately 1,200 students from below 90% attendance to above 90%.

"When we speak of chronic absenteeism, that talks about the number of students that are missing 10% or more of the academic year," Joseph Lumpkin said, describing a tiered approach of home visits, restorative teams and care coordination to support students.

District staff said reasons for chronic absence are varied—physical and mental health, unstable housing, transportation, exclusion and grieving—and described interventions used in 2024–25: about 7,500 home visits; a three-person restorative team; 19 in-school suspension workers who provide mentoring and outreach; 20 dropout-prevention specialists handling caseloads of roughly 200–250 students; and a tiered care system for higher-need families.

Principal Matt Brown of Wilbur Cross High School described the Freshman Academy model adopted this year: moving ninth-grade core classes to a single wing, creating monthly town meetings and interactive lessons, contracting with Connecticut RISE for ninth-grade supports, and recruiting teachers committed to ninth-grade transitions. Brown said the school’s goals include 90% of freshmen moving successfully to 10th grade and a freshman chronic-absenteeism target of 20%. He reported current freshman on-track rates of 86% and freshman chronic absenteeism at 24%.

Board members praised the work and asked clarifying questions about transportation and staffing gaps. The district reported that transportation issues were not currently a significant barrier, and board members highlighted that percentage-point improvements represent hundreds or thousands of students in a district of the size cited.

What happens next: Governance and operational committees will continue to monitor outcomes and refine interventions; the board noted ongoing funding and staffing gaps that could affect the ability to scale programs.