Student Support & Attendance

Dear Families,

We understand that some students may face challenges with consistent attendance, often due to feelings of anxiety or worries that make it difficult for them to attend school. These emotions can be hard to express, and you might notice some signs without your child directly telling you that they are feeling anxious. Some of these signs can include:

• Stomach aches or headaches

• Trouble sleeping or feeling tired frequently

• Increased irritability or blaming others

• Stressful life events, such as a family illness, loss of a pet or loved one, or changes like divorce or separation

• Withdrawal from activities that they usually enjoy

• Difficulty with social situations or conflicts at school

We’ve been in close communication with our school counselors about school avoidance, and they have shared some important insights:

If you’re noticing these signs or feeling concerned, please reach out to us at school. We’re here to help, and it’s important to remember that you are not alone in this journey. Early intervention can make a big difference, and by working together, we can create a plan that supports your child and your family. Our goal is to get your child back to school, as the longer they stay home, the harder it can be to return.

Sometimes, older students may ask parents not to contact the school. If that happens, we encourage you to gently reassure your child that we are here to support them and that, together, we can work on solutions to help them feel more comfortable. Open communication between home and school is a key part of this process.

If your child does stay home due to school avoidance, we encourage you to let the counselor know as soon as possible. It's also helpful to structure the day in a way that keeps them engaged and avoids reinforcing the avoidance. While we understand that it may feel tempting to treat the day as a break, it’s important to maintain some structure, such as schoolwork, light chores, or even a conversation with a therapist, if applicable. Spending excessive time on social media, TV, or screens can sometimes make avoidance more appealing, so we recommend balancing it with productive activities.

We know that school avoidance is a challenging issue for many families, and we want to support you every step of the way. One thing to keep in mind when discussing this with your child is that, unless there are significant mental health concerns, if they’re feeling well enough to move around at home, they may be well enough to attend school.

We are committed to working with you on all matters related to your child’s well-being, and we recognize that attendance issues related to school avoidance can be especially tough. To support you further, we’ve included a website with two helpful articles that may provide more insights.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for any support you need. Together, we can help your child navigate these challenges.

Healthychildren.org is a website that offers multiple articles dedicated to children's health. Here are 2 regarding anxiety and school avoidance that you may find helpful:

Help your child manage anxiety: tips for home & school

School Avoidance: tips for concerned parents

A student is considered Chronically Absent when they miss 10% of the school year. In Massachusetts, this means a student who misses 18 or more days, regardless of an excused or unexcused reason, is classified as chronically absent. Remember that all it takes is for a student to miss two days each month to be designated with this status.

December 13, 2024 - 0.7% of WPS students are at Chronically Absent levels (18+ abs)

November 1, 2024 - 0.3% of WPS students are at Chronically Absent levels (18+ abs)

Walpole Public Schools (WPS) have been addressing challenges related to attendance. Chronic Absenteeism has increased dramatically since 2020. Before the pandemic, students were attending school more consistently. Our goal is to decrease our numbers as much as possible.

Recent Chronic Absenteeism Rates in Walpole Public Schools

• 2019 - 7.1% of WPS students were Chronically Absent
• 2022 - 13.1% of WPS students were Chronically Absent
• 2024 - 9.3% of WPS students were Chronically Absent

We know that Walpole is not alone regarding the number of student absences from school. School absenteeism is an issue in Massachusetts and across the country. The district will continue to work with families in an effort to further reduce the number of absences in our schools.

School Attendance

Chapter 76, section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws states that all children between the ages of six and sixteen must attend school. It is the parents or guardians to ensure that their children attend school.

Parental Responsibility

Parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring that a child under their control attends school daily. It is a crime for a responsible parent or guardian not to cause such a child to attend school. If a child fails to attend school for seven day sessions or fourteen half day sessions within any six month period, school administrators may file a criminal complaint in court against the responsible parent/guardian.

Notification and Contact Information

Chapter 76, section 1A of the Massachusetts General Laws states that parents/guardians must be provided each year with the instructions for calling a designated phone number at a designated time to inform the school of the absence of a student and the reason for the absence. Those telephone numbers can be found in the school's Student-Parent Handbook. In addition, parents/guardians must provide the school with a home, work or other emergency telephone number so that they may be contacted during the school day so the school may call and inquire about said absence.

What is a CRA (Child Requiring Assistance) Application?

A “CRA” (Child Requiring Assistance) application may be filed in court by a school district if a school-aged child is “habitually truant". That means a child willfully fails to attend school for more than eight school days in a quarter, or who repeatedly fails to obey the lawful and reasonable regulations of his or her school. The Court’s authority pursuant to a CRA petition includes the power to place the child in the custody of the state agency known as the Department of Children and Families.

What is a 51A?

A 51A is a report of suspected child abuse or neglect that is filed with the Department of Children and Families. Under Chapter 119, section 51A of the Massachusetts General Laws, a report can be filed on behalf of a child under the age of eighteen for educational neglect if a child is not attending school on a regular basis. Parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring that a child under their control attends school.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the email or telephone number listed below. Or, you can contact your child's school:

Edward Connor

Dean of Student Support and Attendance

Email: econnor@walpole.k12.ma.us

Phone: (508) 660-7257 ext. 5020