New Haven Schools' Supt. Part Of White House's Every Day Counts Summit

NEW HAVEN, CT —New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Madeline Negrón and Chief of Youth, Family, and Community Engagement Gemma Joseph Lumpkin will travel to the White House in Washington, DC for a May 15 summit hosted by the Biden-Harris administration of education leaders on “Addressing Chronic Absenteeism and Increasing Student Engagement.”

The Every Day Counts Summit will feature remarks from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, and others about the Administration’s efforts to increase student attendance and engagement and help students come to school every day, according to a news release from New Haven schools.

Participants will hear from experts in the field, as well as other state and local leaders representing school districts from across the United States that are making progress to address the challenge through evidence-based strategies.

“We are humbled to receive this invitation,” Negrón said, “and we look forward to learning from others across the nation.”

High rates of student chronic absenteeism–a national problem–can impact students’ academic achievement, their social and emotional development, and their mental health and overall wellbeing.

In New Haven, Negrón has made reducing absenteeism a top priority. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate is currently 34.3 percent, down from 58.2 percent recorded at the end of 2021-22. The goal is to be no higher than 27.5 percent by the end of this school year.

The Biden-Harris Administration is taking steps to help states, districts, and schools address the ongoing challenge, including through targeting resources and technical assistance alongside efforts to engage state and local leaders, and other partners.