The Block Island School is sending out a notice to parents informing them that absenteeism has had and will have a negative impact on how the state ranks the school’s academic performance.
“At the Block Island School, we are under the mandate to encourage and educate parents and students about the importance of school attendance,” the notice, which will be sent out along with the next report card, reads. “If we fail, the Rhode Island Department of Education will give us a lower than expected rating on our school report card. That is just what they have done this year!”
The notice asks that parents be aware of the number of days their child or children are absent from school, with the current number of absences recorded at the top of each report card.
“Knowing your child’s number of days absent is important… Please know it and use it when negotiating absences with your child,” the notice states.
According to the notice, the state does not give any allowance for what is locally called “the Block Island factor.”
“Of course we understand the Block Island factor
