The current attendance policy in Chelsea High School, (Chelsea, MA) includes the E-policy. This policy’s intention was to help with improving attendance. We, as a school, have never seen data that support this. We as alumni, students, parents, educators, and other community members feel in fact that it harms many students and their families. 

The E policy does not exist in any other of the Chelsea Public Schools. If this is an effective policy, why is it not implemented in the middle schools or at COA? As we know, dynamics have changed in schools due to COVID. We have made many changes to grades and made sure this year that all teachers use at least a 40 when grading assignments to help students be successful in school. Yet, no change has been implemented on the E-policy structure. Many other places like Boston, Connecticut and Washington realize that reducing a student’s grade does not help in improving one’s attendance. There are other things that schools can do to help motivate students to have better attendance. 

The E-policy needs to be revised in partnership with parents, students, educators, and community leaders to achieve the ideal goal: increase attendance in Chelsea High School, motivate all students to want to attend their classes. 

We, the undersigned, call on the school board to put hold on the E policy for the first quarter at CHS to look at better ways to implement the E policy; and have the school board to revise with the help of the community.  We want the attendance policy to be motivating and to include an easy way to track attendance, so all students and families can know when they are getting an unexcused absence for any class. By making these changes, we believe that we will have a higher attendance rate at Chelsea High School.

Please sign below that you support this petition.