Progam targets chronically-absent kids

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A new program hopes to increase school attendance in Providence by identifying and offering assistance to chronically-absent students.

Volunteers with the Providence Children's Initiative unveiled a school attendance map Tuesday, pinpointing areas around Fogarty Elementary School most affected by high absenteeism.  The group says that information is being used to break down the barriers that are keeping kids from getting to school on time.

"It was always something that had to do with health, or transportation," explains Michelle Cortes-Harkins of the Providence Children's Initiative.  "So it was something that we felt we needed to take a look at."

The map showed the majority of chronically absent students lived within a mile of the school and were not eligible to take the bus.  So the group developed a new volunteer program called the "walking school bus."

"The idea is that a parent will just drop them off at a set stop, meet the volunteer there, leave the kid at the stop with the volunteer and they'll go along their way," explains Abby Kretsch of the Providence Children's Initiative.

Six families have already committed to the walking school bus.  The route will be expanded as more families sign up.