Getting students to school is about more than taking attendance. It is about understanding what keeps students away and making sure they have the support they need to succeed.
East Cleveland City Schools is taking a proactive, student-centered approach to chronic absenteeism by working directly with students and families to identify and remove barriers to attendance.
Through coordinated efforts across the district, staff members are doing more than monitoring attendance data. They are building relationships, identifying individual needs, and connecting families with resources that make it possible to get to school.
Some of these efforts include:
- Transportation Assistance: Providing RTA bus passes and daily bus-ticket incentives to help students overcome transportation challenges.
- Student Resource Centers: Operating resource centers at Shaw High School and Kirk Middle School, providing clothing, shoes, hygiene products, and other essential items.
- Individualized Support: Holding weekly attendance meetings, conducting family outreach, and making home visits when additional assistance is needed.
- Student Opportunities: Creating paid student ambassador positions and incentives that encourage students to remain engaged in school.
- Family Partnerships: Working alongside parents and caregivers to understand challenges and develop practical solutions.
These efforts are part of a broader commitment to creating welcoming school environments where students feel supported, families feel valued, and attendance is everyone's responsibility.
The work is making a difference. East Cleveland reduced chronic absenteeism by 10 percentage points between the 2023 - 2024 and 2024 - 2025 school years. While there is still significant work ahead, the district remains committed to building on that progress.
As Superintendent Dr. Henry Pettiegrew II and district staff continue to emphasize, improving attendance starts with understanding students, supporting families, and removing obstacles to learning.
Every student deserves the opportunity to be present, participate, and succeed.
In the News
Hoodline recently highlighted East Cleveland's attendance initiatives and the resources being made available to students and families.
For additional coverage, read Signal Cleveland's original reporting on the district's approach to chronic absenteeism.