A Connecticut school district is expanding school bus eligibility zones for elementary students in an effort to fight chronic absenteeism, according to local new reports.
Under previous rules, Consolidated School District of New Britain students who lived over 1 mile from their school were eligible for school bus service. As of September, however, students who live more than half a mile from their school will be allowed to use school transportation.
The latest numbers show chronic absenteeism is up to 17% among kindergartners, Joe Vaverchak, the district’s attendance supervisor told New Britain Herald. Vaverchak cited logistical problems such as lack of access to a car, having to care for younger children at home, and inclement weather for increasing the absentee rates.
The district plans to add bus routes to accommodate for the expanded service. Read more from New Britain Herald.
