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Representative Ellen Chapin recounts family's struggle with absenteeism, urges caution on uniform attendance policy
Summary
Representative Ellen Chapin told the committee a personal story about her 15‑year‑old child's developmental disability and lengthy route to diagnosis, warning that a top‑down, mandatory Agency of Education attendance policy could harm students who need local discretion and individualized supports.
Representative Ellen Chapin (identified in testimony as a representative from East Montclair) offered a personal statement explaining why she supports preventative approaches for chronic absenteeism but opposes a mandatory, one‑size‑fits‑all model imposed from above.
Chapin described her family's multi‑year experience: her child struggled with school attendance for several years, the family waited months (three to six months in testimony) to get an external evaluation, and the child ultimately received a diagnosis that led the family…
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