East Ramapo presents rising chronic absenteeism; district outlines tiered interventions

District staff presented a month-to-month attendance analysis and a proposal to reduce chronic absenteeism across East Ramapo schools.

Mr. Gandhi (district attendance lead) told trustees that as of Sept. 30 the district enrollment was 9,722, average daily attendance was 90.56%, and that the September chronic-absence figure was 29.36%. By Oct. 31 the chronic absenteeism rate had increased (to around 31.82%), and as of Nov. 30 the year-to-date chronic absenteeism rate reported was 31.67. Gandhi explained that early-month percentages can look high because fewer instructional days make small absence counts more consequential.

Assistant Superintendent Jelisa Rincon Tomizawa outlined a district plan that would formalize school-based attendance teams and tiered responses: universal (Tier 1) strategies such as daily attendance-taking and positive recognition; targeted outreach (Tier 2) including teacher and family outreach and data trackers; and Tier 3 intensive interventions such as home visits, individualized attendance plans, and partnerships with social workers and family resource coordinators.

Trustees asked how the district treats students who have moved or whose families are detained; staff said students are removed from rosters only after 20 consecutive days absent with proof of relocation, and the district can backdate rosters in its eSchool data system when moves are verified. Staff recommended piloting attendance coordinators and hiring monitors, especially at the secondary level, and committed to share a formal implementation plan with timelines and staffing recommendations.