Braintree Approves Working At Home To Make-Up Missed School Days

BRAINTREE, MA — During years when Braintree has too many snow days, students will be required to make up missed classwork from home instead of attending school for extra days at the end of the year, the school committee has decided.

Massachusetts allows public schools up to five cancellations before classes need to be made up. Under the new policy, if school needs to be canceled more than five days, students will be required to take work home to make up for lost time. At Monday's school committee meeting, Assistant Superintendent James Lee said this alternative policy is allowed under state guidelines.

The homework counts toward students' grades and has to be returned within two weeks after students return to class. Lee said the two-week deadline gives students an opportunity to get extra help if they struggle with an assignment or need access to additional resources.

"We have a number of students who may not have access to technology, who might require additional support within school based on their own individual needs,..." Lee said. "We are working with principals and faculty to make sure we staff it over the course of two weeks to allow students the opportunity to receive that support."

The 30-75 minutes lessons would be submitted via a portal on the school's website or Google Classroom, Lee said.

As of Friday, the school district has only used one cancellation day this school year.

Photo by Dan Libon