Governor Lamont and Commissioner Russell-Tucker Announced $7 Million in State Grants to Expand Program Aimed at Boosting Student Attendance

29 School Districts Receiving Funding for Evidence-Based Home Visiting Program as Connecticut Builds on Year Five of Progress Improving Student Attendance

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today announced that the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) is awarding approximately $6.2 million in state grants to 29 school districts through the Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP), continuing Connecticut’s investment in a research-based approach to approving student attendance and engagement.

The grants are supported through a dedicated $7 million state budget line-item established with the support of Governor Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly. Of that amount, approximately $6.2 million is being awarded directly to school districts, with the remaining funds supporting statewide LEAP infrastructure, including home visitor training, program implementation, and data collection.

Since the Lamont administration established LEAP in 2021, chronic absenteeism has declined for four consecutive years, from 23.7% in 2021-2022 to 16.4% in 2025-2026, meaning nearly 35,000 more students are attending school regularly compared with 2021-2022. LEAP is one component of Connecticut’s broader statewide strategy to improve attendance and student engagement.

“We launched LEAP because we knew we needed to find new ways to reconnect students and families with their schools, and the results show that this approach is working,” Governor Lamont said. “That is why we are making LEAP a sustained state investment and expanding it to more districts. Getting students into classrooms and keeping them engaged is fundamental to their success, and this investment will help more schools build the relationships with families that make a real difference.”

Governor Lamont and CSDE launched LEAP in 2021 using federal COVID-19 relief funding after chronic absenteeism rose sharply during the pandemic and many students became disconnected from their schools. Under the governor’s direction, the state looked to research on how best to strengthen relationships between families and schools, resulting in a structured home visiting program with human connection at its center. LEAP initially served 15 school districts, later expanded to 25, and with this latest round of grants will reach 29 districts across Connecticut.

Through LEAP, trained school staff and community partners connect directly with students and families, build relationships, identify barriers contributing to absences, and connect families with resources and supports that can help students attend school consistently. Since LEAP launched, home visitors have conducted approximately 88,000 home visits and reached approximately 53,000 students.

Independent research has also demonstrated positive outcomes associated with LEAP. An evaluation conducted through the Center for Connecticut Education Research Collaboration found that attendance improved by over 10 percentage points after a LEAP visit. LEAP’s benefits also extended beyond attendance. Students who received a LEAP visit experienced a five-percentage-point decline in the number of disciplinary incidents.

“Students attending school consistently are engaged in their learning, more connected to their peers and school community, and better positioned for academic success,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said. “At the heart of LEAP is human connection. Our home visitors, educators, district leaders, and community partners are building relationships one student and one family at a time, helping us understand and address the barriers that can keep students from school. We are grateful to Governor Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly for their continued investment in this work and commitment to ensuring more students are present, engaged, and ready to learn. This collaboration demonstrates our theme in education, Connecticut’s Mission: Empower Every Learner’s Educational Journey.”

Developed in partnership with the nationally recognized nonprofit Attendance Works, LEAP is supported by CSDE partners EdAdvance and the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), which coordinate with new and continuing districts to provide data tools, home visitor training, and technical assistance to support effective implementation of the evidence-based model.

2026-2027 LEAP grant recipients

The following 29 school districts will receive LEAP grants for 2026-2027:

ACES: $150,000
Bridgeport: $475,000
Bristol: $225,000
Common Ground: $70,000
CREC: $319,766
Derby: $117,179
East Hartford: $209,779
East Haven: $70,000
East Windsor: $62,816
Enfield: $108,672
Groton: $85,000
Hamden: $200,000
Hartford: $500,000
Manchester: $180,000
Meriden: $274,000
Middletown: $125,000
Naugatuck: $200,000
New Haven: $425,000
Norwalk: $284,977
Norwich: $125,000
Norwich Free Academy: $150,000
Plainfield: $70,000
Stamford: $350,000
Stratford: $250,000
Torrington: $150,000
Wallingford: $150,000
Waterbury: $525,000
West Haven: $200,000
Windham: $175,000

LEAP five-year celebration

In August, Governor Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Commissioner Russell-Tucker, Attendance Works founder and Executive Director Hedy Chang, State Representative Toni Walker, State Board of Education Vice Chair Erin Benham, LEAP district coordinators and home visitors, community partners, and state and local leaders joined for an event to celebrate five years of LEAP.

Governor Lamont proclaimed August 19, 2026, LEAP Five-Year Celebration Day in recognition of the educators, home visitors, coordinators, district leaders, community partners, students, and families who have helped build the initiative.

A video recording of the five-year LEAP celebration is available from the Connecticut Network (CT-N).

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