Council Rock Schools See Low Attendance Amid Expanded Reopening

NEWTOWN, PA — As many as 30 percent of students who signed up for in-person learning at Council Rock high schools are not showing up to school.

That's according to data shared by Andy Sanko, director of K-12 education, during the Council Rock School Board's Thursday meeting.

Students are not attending for a variety of reasons — some of them valid, such as feeling sick — while others are choosing not to attend school to go skiing or take a personal day, Sanko said.

Superintendent Robert Fraser said the district is exploring the possibility of increasing enforcement of the district attendance policy or taking more punitive measures when it comes to repeated absences.

"We have too many of our students who are not showing up for school who have registered for in person," Fraser said. "We've tried to be understanding and accommodating and at this point it's probably a bridge too far."

Fraser said the district is consulting with its solicitor to find ways to increase attendance, such as requiring a note from a parent or doctor for those who decide not to attend school.

"I'm supportive of that," board member Andy Block said. "I can't imagine that the rate at which this is happening is a good thing for our staff."

Meanwhile, the district is also seeing an increased number of students failing at all grade levels, Sanko said.

"We have seen an increase of students who fall in the failing category of not performing in terms of the assessment results when we compare them to previous years," he said. "That also offers a challenge to the teachers as well as the students."

Sanko encourages teachers to tell students to keep their cameras on during virtual instruction to ensure that students are participating.

From March 11 through March 16, parents who have children in virtual learning will have the opportunity to enroll their child for in-person instruction for the fourth marking period.

On March 19, each family will receive an email with updated enrollment numbers at the elementary and secondary levels.

Virtual Wednesdays For K-6 On Chopping Block

During Thursday's school board meeting, board members discussed the idea of transitioning into five-day in-person learning for students in grades K-6.

The majority of board members expressed support for returning to in-person instruction five days a week. Superintendent Robert Fraser proposed waiting until the fourth marking period before making the change, though most board members expressed support for a speedier transition.

The board will vote on eliminating virtual Wednesdays at a special meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 4.

Be the first to know what's happening in your town and area. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss a minute of local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe