Supporting Students In and Out of School

June 6, 2024
• At their most recent meeting, Needham School Committee members discussed absenteeism within the schools and the supports available to students with long-term absences.

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at schools has come under closer scrutiny. It is no longer about whether a child is in school or out of school, but why it is so, and making sure that they have appropriate support to do the right thing, under the right circumstances for the right reason. How does a school system encourage student involvement, and not create unwanted fallout for either the student or their peers? These are just some of the questions that were examined when the school committee heard from the high school and district leaders at their June 4th meeting.

This story had it’s roots at an earlier school committee meeting, where high school policies were discussed. Read the Needham Local article: Absenteeism Policy Draws School Committee Concern and see the previous report: Updated Absentee Policy in the Needham Public Schools

This story ran as part of the Needham Channel News, a weekly newscast airing on The Needham Channel every Thursday at 7:30pm. The Needham Channel News can be found on the Community Channel: Comcast 9, Astound 15 and Verizon 29. Most Thursdays it also can be viewed on our HD Channel on Verizon 2129, Astound 613 and streaming on this site.