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Committee approves policy sections, hears attendance changes and a homeschooling update
Summary
The committee approved policy sections I–L, held a first reading of the student-attendance policy (noting a required letter after five unexcused absences and withdrawal rules for extended vacations), and heard a year-end homeschooling report showing 44 students districtwide.
The East Ham School Committee completed a second vote to adopt policy sections I, J, K and L and then moved to first readings and updates on several related policies.
Vote: The committee voted to accept sections I, J, K and L (motion made and seconded; vote recorded as 4–0). The updates are part of an ongoing multi-year policy overhaul and include revised language intended to align district procedures with recent state guidance.
Attendance policy (JH): Staff presented the first reading of the attendance policy and highlighted several operational changes intended to yield more consistent practice across schools. Key points explained by staff: school attendance is required under Massachusetts law; districts may excuse up to seven full sessions (14 partials) within any six-month period; the district will now send a formal letter when a student accumulates five unexcused days in a school year (they need not be consecutive) to prompt a meeting and support; and families who remove a student for 15 or more consecutive days will be required to withdraw the student and re-enroll later.
Homeschooling: The superintendent delivered the district’s first end-of-year homeschooling report, saying the district had 44 students enrolled in homeschooling programs for the coming school year, with counts broken down by grade and school. Staff noted the central office now manages homeschooling approvals, progress-report reviews and required documentation.
Staff said they will bring the attendance policy back for final approval before the joint committee on Sept. 2 and will continue to refine operational checklists and family communications this summer.
