A More Complete Picture of School Absenteeism
October 18, 2024
• Members of the Needham School Committee share their concerns about certain subgroups of students having more unexcused absences at their meeting on October 15, 2024.
While the Needham Public Schools have always been concerned with maintaining a high attendance rate, an extra emphasis has been placed upon it in recent years. With the state tracking rates and labelling some trends as “chronic absenteeism”, the Needham school committee asked the district to report on what has been happening in the years since the pandemic. Hearing different breakdowns by grade and school population, the school committee are seeking fair policies and practices to help engage Needham students. Municipal Producer Yuxiao Yuan reports.
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