Malden reports lower chronic absenteeism in K–8, outlines RISE and 'on‑track' programs

Assistant Superintendent Pam McDonald told the committee that year‑to‑date chronic absenteeism is down to roughly 14% in grades 1–8 (a decline of about 3% from last year) and that the high school year‑to‑date rate is about 26%.

McDonald described a multi‑tiered attendance playbook that ranges from universal supports to intensive tier‑three interventions and emphasized the role of school attendance teams that meet weekly to review data and coordinate supports. She said the district is using outreach and outside agency referrals for intensive cases and is emphasizing welcoming practices on the day students return to encourage attendance.

For secondary students, McDonald highlighted work with the RISE network focusing on ninth graders, including data‑driven "kids blitz" meetings for ninth‑grade teachers and an upcoming on‑track promotion academy and summerbridge program for eighth‑grade students at risk of falling behind. Committee members asked for disaggregated analyses for students with disabilities and for information about tardiness data related to schedule changes; administrators said they would provide that follow‑up data.

The committee asked administration to share trend charts excluding pandemic years and to cross‑reference administrative model changes with K–8 absenteeism trends.