Student Support & Attendance

Dear Families,

My name is Ed Connor, and I am the new Dean of Student Support and Attendance for the Walpole Public Schools. Previously, I served as Principal of Bird Middle School. In my current role, I'll be collaborating with students, families, teachers, and administrators across all our schools. If we haven't met yet, I look forward to connecting with you as we work together to improve school attendance in Walpole. Please read on to learn more about our focus on chronic absenteeism, what it is, and why school attendance is so important.

Like many districts across Massachusetts, Walpole Public Schools have been addressing challenges related to attendance. Chronic Absenteeism has become a more prominent issue following the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, students were attending school more consistently. Chronic Absenteeism in WPS increased from 7.1% in 2019 to 13.1% in 2022. But Walpole is not alone. School absenteeism is an issue in Massachusetts and across the country. Although Chronic Absenteeism rates in Walpole decreased to 9.3% in 2024, we still have work to do. The district will continue to work with families in an effort to further reduce the number of absences in our schools.

A student is considered Chronically Absent when they miss 10% of the school year. In Massachusetts, this means a student who misses 18 or more days, regardless of an excused or unexcused reason, is classified as chronically absent. Just two missed days each month can lead to this status.

Students who are in school consistently are more successful learners. Per the National Center for Education Statistics: A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn and interact with their classmates. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear early in a child's school career. Greater absenteeism during the school year can lead to lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge. Poor attendance has serious implications for later outcomes as well. High school dropouts have been found to have exhibited a history of negative behaviors, including high levels of absenteeism throughout their childhood, at higher rates than high school graduates.

If your child starts to accumulate absences, I will be working with the schools and families to figure out the best way to help improve your child's attendance at school. My goal is to work directly with families and schools to address any barriers to school attendance. I know we can best address those concerns by working together to create a plan to get your child in school where they belong.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the email or telephone number listed below:

Edward Connor

Dean of Student Support and Attendance

Email: econnor@walpole.k12.ma.us

Phone: (508) 660-7257 ext. 5020