The Chronic Early Absenteeism & Truancy Reduction Initiative (CEATRI) works to reduce Chronic Early Absenteeism and Truancy in the City of Newport. In December 2013 we established the initiative to include multiple school and community stakeholders to collectively work together as a community-based collaborative planning initiative to address Chronic Early Absenteeism/Truancy in the Newport Public Schools. Chronic Absence at any age is one of the best warning indicators that a student is at-risk academically and, if left unaddressed, the student will likely eventually drop out. Early and ongoing identification of the underlying root causes of chronic absenteeism is the first step in truancy prevention.

The Newport Cares Program, funded by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act supports homeless students in Newport.  This federal legislation ensures that all children and youth experiencing homelessness have the opportunity to enroll in, attend, and succeed in school. McKinney-Vento legislation requires school districts to ensure access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education as is provided to other children and youth for students experiencing homelessness and to support them once enrolled. This includes choice of schools, comparable services, the right to attend school, and the right to not be segregated. Through the Newport Cares Program, Family Service Coordinators provide support to homeless students to ensure that they receive necessary supports to keep  them in school.  Activities focus on securing food and clothing, assisting with personal hygiene, mental health supports, goal setting, obtaining literacy support, communicating with teachers, obtaining school supplies, assisting students with after school programs, and administrative duties