Roughly 25% of MCPS students are chronically absent, and absenteeism response plan delayed

[Anonymous]

Inflate the grades so the made up numbers show progress. That seems to be a mcps cure all. Fire the teachers who don't go along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HS teacher here. At my DCC school, truancy is a huge issue. We need to bring consequences back for chronic absenteeism. A few kids skip because of major issues but many more kids skip just because they can. Many immigrant parents don’t understand that it is not ok to skip school. They will take kids out for 4-6 weeks to go visit their home country and teachers are pressured by administrators to help the kids catch up. It is an impossible situation and lowers the quality of education for all students

Same at my school. And then teachers get blamed for differences in academic outcomes based on race and ethnicity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://moco360.media/2023/06/13/nearly-25-of-mcps-students-considered-chronically-absent/

Nearly a quarter of all Montgomery County Public School students are currently considered “chronically absent,” according to new data shared with MoCo360 this month. A comprehensive action plan to address absenteeism was mentioned publicly in March and is expected to be released before the start of next school year.

Student truancy continues to be a high concern for officials and parents alike as the school district grapples with post-pandemic learning loss and mental health exacerbations.

“Truancy is one of our biggest topics of conversation as teachers right now,” White Oak Middle School teacher Jess Porrovicchio said. On June 8, she said five students were missing from her classroom. “That’s 20% of my class, and I don’t know why they weren’t here.”

The new plan will “tighten up” school policy to ensure chronically absent students receive appropriate discipline, according to MCPS spokesperson Jessica Baxter. Current policy states in the event of an unexcused absence, the school counselor will meet with the student and their caregivers, verify the reason for the absence and “determine appropriate interventions.”

“Kids are smart. They’ll work the system. If they know they can skip class and still pass, and there’s no disincentive—I mean, it’s going to happen,” Porrovicchio said.

MCPS spokesperson Aisha Mbowe told MoCo360 in June that nearly 25% of all MCPS students are considered “chronically absent,” meaning they missed 10% or more of all enrolled school days in the year. The national average is around 33%, Mbowe said. She did not provide the state average./QUOTE]

I think it's abysmal that MCPS does not understand, at this stage, some of the root causes for this chronic absenteeism and that they haven't rolled out this absenteeism plan after it was announced in March.

This is why people are disgusted and fed up with MCPS. Slow to act, no action, and always behind the curve.

This should help with the overcrowding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

You should care for multiple reasons. These kids are part of our community and having kids mature into adults with no marketable skills is not good for anyone. Also, kids being absent a lot puts more stress on teachers because there is pressure to help these kids make up lost learning so these teachers are less available for your kid. Finally, teachers are under a lot of pressure to pass these kids which ultimately devalues the MCPS HS diploma

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

You should care for multiple reasons. These kids are part of our community and having kids mature into adults with no marketable skills is not good for anyone. Also, kids being absent a lot puts more stress on teachers because there is pressure to help these kids make up lost learning so these teachers are less available for your kid. Finally, teachers are under a lot of pressure to pass these kids which ultimately devalues the MCPS HS diploma

Tell me what "we" the parents of kids who care about school, should do to help make the kids who are chronically absent go to school. Like I said, all I can do is worry about my child; and really, as someone with a kid in ES, MS, and HS, I can tell you that teachers are not stressed out about absent kids. All they do (or can do) is give them a barely passing grade. This is hurting the chronically absent kids more than anyone. At some point, people need to take accountability for their OWN actions; and sorry but someone with no marketable skills isn't going to impact me or my child; now or in the future. We might not even be living here once my kid graduates high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

Establish residential schools that ARE prisons. If our law says that school is mandatory, make it mandatory. Provide job training as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

Establish residential schools that ARE prisons. If our law says that school is mandatory, make it mandatory. Provide job training as well.

The ultimate school to prison pipeline!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

You should care for multiple reasons. These kids are part of our community and having kids mature into adults with no marketable skills is not good for anyone. Also, kids being absent a lot puts more stress on teachers because there is pressure to help these kids make up lost learning so these teachers are less available for your kid. Finally, teachers are under a lot of pressure to pass these kids which ultimately devalues the MCPS HS diploma

Tell me what "we" the parents of kids who care about school, should do to help make the kids who are chronically absent go to school. Like I said, all I can do is worry about my child; and really, as someone with a kid in ES, MS, and HS, I can tell you that teachers are not stressed out about absent kids. All they do (or can do) is give them a barely passing grade. This is hurting the chronically absent kids more than anyone. At some point, people need to take accountability for their OWN actions; and sorry but someone with no marketable skills isn't going to impact me or my child; now or in the future. We might not even be living here once my kid graduates high school.

Teachers are stressed out by chronic absenteeism. I know because I am a HS teacher. I have kids pop back into class the last couple weeks of the quarter and beg to make up enough work to pass or even get a C. There is a lot of pressure from counselors and administrators to help these kids pass. It is exhausting and frustrating and seems unfair to other students who come every day but might still have a C or D.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

Establish residential schools that ARE prisons. If our law says that school is mandatory, make it mandatory. Provide job training as well.

The ultimate school to prison pipeline!

Kids wandering the streets during the day are headed there on their own. At least my idea provides them with education, job training and will let them exit when they show responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

Establish residential schools that ARE prisons. If our law says that school is mandatory, make it mandatory. Provide job training as well.

The ultimate school to prison pipeline!

Kids wandering the streets during the day are headed there on their own. At least my idea provides them with education, job training and will let them exit when they show responsibility.

yeah, let's go with that interpretation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

You should care for multiple reasons. These kids are part of our community and having kids mature into adults with no marketable skills is not good for anyone. Also, kids being absent a lot puts more stress on teachers because there is pressure to help these kids make up lost learning so these teachers are less available for your kid. Finally, teachers are under a lot of pressure to pass these kids which ultimately devalues the MCPS HS diploma

Tell me what "we" the parents of kids who care about school, should do to help make the kids who are chronically absent go to school. Like I said, all I can do is worry about my child; and really, as someone with a kid in ES, MS, and HS, I can tell you that teachers are not stressed out about absent kids. All they do (or can do) is give them a barely passing grade. This is hurting the chronically absent kids more than anyone. At some point, people need to take accountability for their OWN actions; and sorry but someone with no marketable skills isn't going to impact me or my child; now or in the future. We might not even be living here once my kid graduates high school.

Teachers are stressed out by chronic absenteeism. I know because I am a HS teacher. I have kids pop back into class the last couple weeks of the quarter and beg to make up enough work to pass or even get a C. There is a lot of pressure from counselors and administrators to help these kids pass. It is exhausting and frustrating and seems unfair to other students who come every day but might still have a C or D.

Yes! I'm so tired of my kids teachers being chronically absent!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

Establish residential schools that ARE prisons. If our law says that school is mandatory, make it mandatory. Provide job training as well.

The ultimate school to prison pipeline!

Kids wandering the streets during the day are headed there on their own. At least my idea provides them with education, job training and will let them exit when they show responsibility.

yeah, let's go with that interpretation.

Uh, since I wrote the previous post, I kind of know what the interpretation is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

You should care for multiple reasons. These kids are part of our community and having kids mature into adults with no marketable skills is not good for anyone. Also, kids being absent a lot puts more stress on teachers because there is pressure to help these kids make up lost learning so these teachers are less available for your kid. Finally, teachers are under a lot of pressure to pass these kids which ultimately devalues the MCPS HS diploma

Tell me what "we" the parents of kids who care about school, should do to help make the kids who are chronically absent go to school. Like I said, all I can do is worry about my child; and really, as someone with a kid in ES, MS, and HS, I can tell you that teachers are not stressed out about absent kids. All they do (or can do) is give them a barely passing grade. This is hurting the chronically absent kids more than anyone. At some point, people need to take accountability for their OWN actions; and sorry but someone with no marketable skills isn't going to impact me or my child; now or in the future. We might not even be living here once my kid graduates high school.

Teachers are stressed out by chronic absenteeism. I know because I am a HS teacher. I have kids pop back into class the last couple weeks of the quarter and beg to make up enough work to pass or even get a C. There is a lot of pressure from counselors and administrators to help these kids pass. It is exhausting and frustrating and seems unfair to other students who come every day but might still have a C or D.

Yes! I'm so tired of my kids teachers being chronically absent!

I know it's funny. At my kids schools their teachers are out far more than any students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe school districts are responsible to ensure kids attend school. That is a parenting issue. I'm sorry, but why waste money on some kind of plan? Parents can send their kids or not.

Yes, agree with this. Why should schools care at this point. Honestly, the ones who are chronically absent are probably the ones who are causing problems at the school so the more they're absent, the better.

Not really, cause then they're out in the community pushing drugs, robbing stores or carjacking.

Keeping kids in school is a public safety and community wellbeing issue and we all should care about it. This selfish mindset is why we're in the mess that we're in right now.

What do you expect the schools to do? For most of these kids (and their parents), they don't care what punishment is enforced. And honestly, why should my kid suffer having to deal with these kids at school when most of them don't even want to be there. My kid actually wants to learn unlike them.

You should care for multiple reasons. These kids are part of our community and having kids mature into adults with no marketable skills is not good for anyone. Also, kids being absent a lot puts more stress on teachers because there is pressure to help these kids make up lost learning so these teachers are less available for your kid. Finally, teachers are under a lot of pressure to pass these kids which ultimately devalues the MCPS HS diploma

Tell me what "we" the parents of kids who care about school, should do to help make the kids who are chronically absent go to school. Like I said, all I can do is worry about my child; and really, as someone with a kid in ES, MS, and HS, I can tell you that teachers are not stressed out about absent kids. All they do (or can do) is give them a barely passing grade. This is hurting the chronically absent kids more than anyone. At some point, people need to take accountability for their OWN actions; and sorry but someone with no marketable skills isn't going to impact me or my child; now or in the future. We might not even be living here once my kid graduates high school.

Teachers are stressed out by chronic absenteeism. I know because I am a HS teacher. I have kids pop back into class the last couple weeks of the quarter and beg to make up enough work to pass or even get a C. There is a lot of pressure from counselors and administrators to help these kids pass. It is exhausting and frustrating and seems unfair to other students who come every day but might still have a C or D.

Yes! I'm so tired of my kids teachers being chronically absent!

I know it's funny. At my kids schools their teachers are out far more than any students.

How do you know how many students are absent in each of your kids classes each day? In MS and HS, students are pretty unaware of most kids in the classroom except the ones seated relatively near them. And when kids are absent >75% of the time, other students may not even realize they are supposed to be in the class.