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District leaders report reading, attendance gains and persistent gaps in Providence schools
Summary
District officials reported midyear gains—an increase in schools rated 3+ stars to about 29%, growth for many students far below grade level, rising AP enrollment and a nearly 12% drop in chronic absenteeism—but emphasized continued work on proficiency, curriculum fidelity and tutoring.
Providence Public Schools leaders told the new School Board that the district has seen measurable midyear gains in several student‑outcome indicators but still faces gaps in overall proficiency.
Sandra Stewart, chief of student support services, and Dr. Paula Dillon, the district’s chief academic officer, presented the TAP (turnaround action plan) academic update, outlining four focus areas: academic achievement, attendance, high‑quality instructional materials (HQIM) and cycles of inquiry. Dillon said the district updated its target to raise the share of students in schools rated 3‑star or higher and reported that roughly 29% of schools currently meet that standard.
Dillon highlighted progress for students who entered the year more than two years behind grade level: midyear growth for that group was reported at about 44% in English language arts and 52% in math. AP enrollment has increased from 349 students last year to 419 this year, she said. On chronic absenteeism the district reported a near 12% decline overall and midyear chronic absence rates of roughly 19% in elementary, 27% in middle and 33% in high school.
Dillon told board members that curriculum adoption is only the start: “Year 1 is adoption and professional development; it typically takes three to five years to see meaningful results,” she said. The district emphasized tiered supports such as MTSS, targeted interventions and high‑dosage tutoring to accelerate students who remain off track.
Board members asked for follow‑up data on counts of students who are two years or more behind and requested school‑level breakdowns of achievement by demographic group at the next update. The administration agreed to provide more detailed counts in a future meeting.
