June 18th, 2012

U.S. Conference of Mayors Agree to Combat Chronic Absence

On Saturday, The U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously adopted a resolution urging mayors to raise awareness of the pernicious effects of chronic absenteeism on student achievement and engage the community to help parents get children to school regularly.

The resolution, introduced by Providence Mayor Angel Taveras with support of 12 other mayors, cites Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ambitious work to reduce absenteeism in New York City and the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading’s broad efforts to persuade 124 communities across the country to start paying attention to chronic absence as part of a strategy to improve literacy in the early grades.

“For our cities to close the achievement gap and reduce dropout rates, we must get a handle on chronic absenteeism at every level,” Mayor Taveras said. “No matter how much we improve our schools, it won’t matter if kids are not in their seats to benefit. Ending chronic absenteeism requires all hands on deck.”

Mayor Bloomberg also weighed in. “Kids who are chronically absent are more likely to drop out of school or become involved in juvenile crime– outcomes we will not accept,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “In New York, we’ve made great gains in reducing chronic absenteeism, and know there is more work to do here and across the country. The resolution from the US Conference of Mayors makes this issue the priority it needs to be so that our students are in school every day.” Bloomberg is also a sponsor of the resolution.

The other sponsors include: Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, Pembroke Pines (FL) Mayor Frank Ortis, West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and Portland (OR) Mayor Sam Adams.

Click here to view the full press release.

Click here to view the full resolution.

Click here to view 10 Steps Mayors Can Take.

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