Interesting little note on the Commissioner's push to increase chronic absenteeism in the accountability system

 ...in this WBUR piece on Secretary Tutwiler coming soon to a television near you:

Tutwiler has long argued that absenteeism is often driven by the “unmet needs” of students and their families, including stable housing. And indeed, among the 59 Massachusetts schools and districts where 30% or more of students were chronically absent last year, all but seven enroll majority low-income students.

Tutwiler acknowledged that some student needs are inevitably “beyond the scope” of educators and school administrators.

But he said that he’s “unwilling to give up,” and hopes to pursue a partnership with community-based organizations that can help families find housing, food or employment. “I feel pretty optimistic,” he added.

MCAS scores and other indicators show that the state is still midway through a fragile academic comeback that depends in part on a return to regular attendance, Tutwiler said.

He stopped short of endorsing Riley’s proposal to fold chronic absenteeism into the state’s school-accountability framework, saying only that he will remain engaged in the process for approving that change.

Hm. 

Meanwhile, we're seeing spikes in COVID, flu, and RSV, and vaccination rates are not nearly what they need to be.