School unveils attendance plans

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)- Thousands of Rhode Island children head back to school this week, including nearly 24,000 in the capital city. 

But how many of those kids are actually going to class?

Providence city leaders are working to fix a growing attendance issue.

Mayor Angel Taveras boarded bus number four to Lauro Elementary Tuesday to talk to kids about the value of getting a good education.

This message is becoming more important as the district struggles to deal with a major absentee problem.

Providence's school superintendent says more than half of ninth graders in the system missed at least 18 days of school last year.

"We need to improve morale, we also need schools to be places where kids want to come because we need to improve attendance", said Superintendent Susan Lusi.

Mayor Angel Taveras said his strategy to nip this issue in the bud is by encouraging young students.

"Whenever I talk to the kids, I ask them to promise me they're going to go to school everyday. If a child or students want to go to school everyday and is pushing their parents its much more likely that will happen", Taveras said. "

The district also hopes a new bus program will help improve attendance. The program will let ninth graders ride RIPTA for free if they live more than two miles away from their school.