The Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) is excited to launch a new initiative for the 2025–2026 school year focused on reducing chronic absenteeism. With generous support from the Abell Foundation and the Richman Foundation, this effort aims to decrease chronic absenteeism by at least 17% across six BCP schools, boost academic achievement, and highlight effective, scalable strategies for long-term impact across Baltimore City Public Schools, BCP’s educational partner.
Chronic absenteeism – defined as missing 10% or more of the school year – affects nearly 1,400 BCP students and remains one of the greatest barriers to student achievement in Baltimore City. National studies from Attendance Works and the Everyone Graduates Center show that children who are chronically absent in the early grades are far less likely to read proficiently by third grade, a key predictor of long-term academic success.
Locally, a study by Johns Hopkins University found that Baltimore students who were chronically absent in kindergarten or first grade were:
- 50% more likely to be retained by third grade
- Nearly twice as likely to score below basic in reading and math
These early setbacks create learning gaps that are difficult to close.
BCP schools have had some success in reducing chronic absenteeism, and both Govans and Hampstead Hill are back to or below pre-pandemic levels. Replicating successful strategies developed at our schools, BCP will implement school-specific, research-based interventions to support students who are at the greatest risk of falling behind. Examples include early identification of students who were chronically absent the previous year, early and frequent outreach to families, and an increased awareness of just what it means to be – and the implications of being – chronically absent.
The Richman Foundation is proud to partner with BCP and the Abell Foundation on this thoughtful initiative, and we hope that the work results in both better outcomes for students at BCP schools and important learnings that can be shared and implemented in other schools across Baltimore.
We are thrilled to announce that Jayla Pope will serve as the Lead Attendance Monitor for this initiative. As a 2023 graduate of Morgan State University and a Fulbright Scholar, Jayla brings a rich blend of academic achievement and practical experience. She has extensive experience with data management and the use of various software systems to analyze data, develop presentations, and inform decision-making. While teaching ESL, Jayla used data trends to guide outreach efforts and better support her students.
Bilingual and deeply passionate about supporting multilingual learners, Jayla will oversee implementation, coach school-based teams, and track the effectiveness of interventions. Her leadership and data-driven approach will be critical in helping us close attendance gaps and improve outcomes for our students.
Throughout the 2025–2026 school year, the initiative will:
- Target a group of students who were chronically absent during the previous school year (2024–2025)
- Provide personalized support through outreach, incentives, and mentorship
- Track student growth using MAP assessments
- Share findings in a white paper to support replication across the district
Stay tuned as we work together to ensure every student is present, engaged, and on track to succeed.