Implementation of the requirements in the new State Chronic Absenteeism law are underway in the Newton School District. Newton Superintendent Tom Messenger says the overall intent of the legislation is to improve student attendance by creating a few changes. 

“The guidance schools receive says when students are not in school they are not learning. As a result, schools are being asked to implement different steps to make sure parents are engaged in the process and promote higher attendance levels on a daily basis.”

Superintendent Messenger says the biggest change is the elimination of excused and unexcused absences. Now they are either exempt or not exempt. When a student has missed 10% of their classes because of non-exempt absences, a letter is sent to their parents or guardian. When non-exempt absences reach 15%, schools are required to have weekly engagement meetings with the student and their parents or guardian. Those meetings are held until the end of the school year. A student is considered truant when their non-exempt absence rate hits 20%. Newton Superintendent Tom Messenger talks more about the Chronic Absenteeism Law on today’s Let’s Talk Newton.