Approximately 2,000 Students May Have to Repeat Grade in Connecticut

WATERBURY, Conn. — Every school district has those few students who lag behind a grade or two, but 2,000 of them?

That’s approximately the number of students that might have to repeat their current grade in Waterbury, Conn., under the city’s newly enforced absenteeism policy, WFSB.com reported Thursday.

The current policy prevents students with 19 or more unexcused absences from advancing to the next grade.

"These kids shouldn't be advancing — end of discussion — unless I hear otherwise," Board of Education President Patrick J. Hayes Jr. told Channel 3 Eyewitness News Monday. "It would make a mockery of the whole system."

I say if the student has good enough grades to pass then let him go to the next level. I was sick and absence for almost 51 days in one year, and maintained honor roll. I did however have a note from my doctor that diagnosed me with my condition that blanketed it for the entire year. All I needed is my parents note for missing school.

In the article it said that a doctors note is needed. That means parents would have to take off work, bring the kid to a doctor, pay the copay or entire amount each time a kid has a headache or a fever that doesn't require a doctor. What about the lower income families? They can not afford to do this. Lets say a kid that had the been absent 16 times. If they have a decent insurance they would pay most $30 for each visit which is roughly $480. Now if they do not have insurance a regular visit cost between $100-$200 and now do the math. That is a lot of money for those who can not afford it. I haven't factored in the days the parent would miss at work and not get paid. What about death in the family that would take a student out for at least a week. Do you have to bring the obituary in?

I grew up in Norwalk, and we had eight days excused we were allowed each quarter to miss. If a student is able to pass the class he/she should move on.

Now if you want to be strict about attendance then have them make up the days in the summer and let him/her go to the next level of education. There is no need to keep students who might be honor roll students or passing students in the next level.

If a student is absent for more than 3 days, then you have to have a doctor’s not.

If you look, it says the student has to be seriously ill to miss school. The parents have to prove the kid is seriously ill with a doctor’s note.

You also can’t be late more than 30 minutes for more than 3 days because you will be considered truant. If you have car trouble, if your other children are sick, if you are sick and your child is late for more than 30 minutes it is consisdered an unexcused absense.

You also can’t take them out of school for any days (like to a relative’s wedding) or you will be considered truant.

I was absent about 30 days a year in high school. I was almost held back for having something like 70 days tardy which i blamed on a sickness. Then i figured out that i could schedule 2 study halls for first and second period, which i would skip, and then show up in homeroom around 9:30 to collect attendance, which i did everyday thereafter for the rest of High school.

Sham when you can ;)

I never had ONE unexcused absence in my entire public school career.It simply wasn’t DONE in my district.If you were sick or out on family emergency you would be ecxcused.If not,you were expected to be in school.End of story.
Then I begin subbing in places like New Orleans and San Francisco and its an entirely different world.Many classes have absentee rates between a third and a half.On bad weather days its even more pronounced.
Its the whole”bigotry of low expectations”syndrome again.White kids were expected to go to school except during illness.Minority kids could cut and be truant for weeks without anyone from the school even bothering to call home.

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