MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism

[Anonymous]

Yep, we got the "mandatory" email about being chronically absent - and like many above, the data that lead to the email was completely inaccurate for our kid.

We're leaving Mcps completely next year for a private due to exact shenanigans like this. Boils my blood so we're out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep, we got the "mandatory" email about being chronically absent - and like many above, the data that lead to the email was completely inaccurate for our kid.

We're leaving Mcps completely next year for a private due to exact shenanigans like this. Boils my blood so we're out.

We got the letter multiple times last year due to excused absence for major health issue. Grades were all fine though. We just ignored the letter because the absences were excused and all was made up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They know what they are doing. Admin are holding teachers jobs and livelihoods over their heads to fraudulently pass them along without evidence of mastery while simultaneously blaming the teachers for incompetence to make a case to oust new teachers who don't understand the corrupt state of education. It's a tough lesson to learn but all the evidence is clear to anyone paying attention.

As an HS teacher, this is 100 percent accurate. My colleagues and I are asked to come up with a revised English “curriculum” that doesn’t involve reading “whole books,” because it’s “not fair” to the kids who barely come. Also if they come only once a week, there is “no reason” they should be failing. It’s all our fault obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They know what they are doing. Admin are holding teachers jobs and livelihoods over their heads to fraudulently pass them along without evidence of mastery while simultaneously blaming the teachers for incompetence to make a case to oust new teachers who don't understand the corrupt state of education. It's a tough lesson to learn but all the evidence is clear to anyone paying attention.

As an HS teacher, this is 100 percent accurate. My colleagues and I are asked to come up with a revised English “curriculum” that doesn’t involve reading “whole books,” because it’s “not fair” to the kids who barely come. Also if they come only once a week, there is “no reason” they should be failing. It’s all our fault obviously.

That is truly awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will be chronically absent after Monday, when he misses one day for travel. All others were illness (including covid) plus one other travel day. Will we get a letter?

We got a letter for my 6 year old this fall for missing 6 days of school (for 2 different bouts of illness- bronchitis, pneumonia). That apparently equated to 10% of school days missed? And my kid is generally healthy- I can’t imagine how children with chronic health issues will manage if there is any eventual enforcement of this “policy.” At a minimum, there needs to be a differentiation between absences for a documented medical reason vs elective absences.

This. My kid is chronically absent due to a medical condition that prevents them from being in the building anywhere near full time. And doesn’t have the energy to do VA which is just as exhausting We ran out of IIS so he’s just absent.

I’d unenroll to homeschool but don’t want to give up on the idea of an education.

There aren’t good options for kids like mine. So, we miss school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They can’t fix the problem until they acknowledge:

1. For whatever reason, teachers routinely mark students absent even when they are present.

2. A growing percentage of students aren’t interested in receiving an education. Many/most are immigrants or first generation who must work and/or provide childcare for their immigrant families (often extended families). Wrap your head around that, mcps.

3. The lowered bar and lack of consequences make it nearly impossible for students to take school seriously…even the “good” kids.

Gentle suggestion: go observe an area catholic school to get a handle on setting expectations and enforcing rules. ICYMI: those schools raise the bar instead of lowering it, and even low income BIPOC students thrive.

PS - If mcps can’t provide safe restrooms, then how on earth can they aspire to provide a rigorous education?

#overit

Wow, students are so well behaved when you expel (decline to educate) students who break the rules. Public schools hold themselves to a higher standard than privates who pick and choose who they are willing to educate.

[Anonymous]

I received a text this week telling me that my kid has been absent three days this quarter.

Two of these were strep--with a doctor's note. On the third day, the child arrived at school one hour late. It was for a good reason.

I responded to the text saying this. The answer?

"Replies are disabled for messages from Montgomery County Public Schools. Your message was not delivered."

It's such a fraud. Absolute attendance theater. They have no plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will be chronically absent after Monday, when he misses one day for travel. All others were illness (including covid) plus one other travel day. Will we get a letter?

We got a letter for my 6 year old this fall for missing 6 days of school (for 2 different bouts of illness- bronchitis, pneumonia). That apparently equated to 10% of school days missed? And my kid is generally healthy- I can’t imagine how children with chronic health issues will manage if there is any eventual enforcement of this “policy.” At a minimum, there needs to be a differentiation between absences for a documented medical reason vs elective absences.

This. My kid is chronically absent due to a medical condition that prevents them from being in the building anywhere near full time. And doesn’t have the energy to do VA which is just as exhausting We ran out of IIS so he’s just absent.

I’d unenroll to homeschool but don’t want to give up on the idea of an education.

There aren’t good options for kids like mine. So, we miss school.

Wow, PP...

I homeschooled four kids. One has finished a BA and a Masters in Political Science; one just graduated last year from a T15 and is working in Finance on Wall Street; one is a Senior in college with a 3.9 applying to grad schools and one is a freshman in college with a 4.0 in Math and Finance. Maybe curb your stereotypes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They know what they are doing. Admin are holding teachers jobs and livelihoods over their heads to fraudulently pass them along without evidence of mastery while simultaneously blaming the teachers for incompetence to make a case to oust new teachers who don't understand the corrupt state of education. It's a tough lesson to learn but all the evidence is clear to anyone paying attention.

As an HS teacher, this is 100 percent accurate. My colleagues and I are asked to come up with a revised English “curriculum” that doesn’t involve reading “whole books,” because it’s “not fair” to the kids who barely come. Also if they come only once a week, there is “no reason” they should be failing. It’s all our fault obviously.

Right who cares about the kids who do come ready to learn and aren’t prepared for the future because of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will be chronically absent after Monday, when he misses one day for travel. All others were illness (including covid) plus one other travel day. Will we get a letter?

We got a letter for my 6 year old this fall for missing 6 days of school (for 2 different bouts of illness- bronchitis, pneumonia). That apparently equated to 10% of school days missed? And my kid is generally healthy- I can’t imagine how children with chronic health issues will manage if there is any eventual enforcement of this “policy.” At a minimum, there needs to be a differentiation between absences for a documented medical reason vs elective absences.

This. My kid is chronically absent due to a medical condition that prevents them from being in the building anywhere near full time. And doesn’t have the energy to do VA which is just as exhausting We ran out of IIS so he’s just absent.

I’d unenroll to homeschool but don’t want to give up on the idea of an education.

There aren’t good options for kids like mine. So, we miss school.

Wow, PP...

I homeschooled four kids. One has finished a BA and a Masters in Political Science; one just graduated last year from a T15 and is working in Finance on Wall Street; one is a Senior in college with a 3.9 applying to grad schools and one is a freshman in college with a 4.0 in Math and Finance. Maybe curb your stereotypes.

Ok, and?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They know what they are doing. Admin are holding teachers jobs and livelihoods over their heads to fraudulently pass them along without evidence of mastery while simultaneously blaming the teachers for incompetence to make a case to oust new teachers who don't understand the corrupt state of education. It's a tough lesson to learn but all the evidence is clear to anyone paying attention.

As an HS teacher, this is 100 percent accurate. My colleagues and I are asked to come up with a revised English “curriculum” that doesn’t involve reading “whole books,” because it’s “not fair” to the kids who barely come. Also if they come only once a week, there is “no reason” they should be failing. It’s all our fault obviously.

That is truly awful.

It's awfully equitable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will be chronically absent after Monday, when he misses one day for travel. All others were illness (including covid) plus one other travel day. Will we get a letter?

We got a letter for my 6 year old this fall for missing 6 days of school (for 2 different bouts of illness- bronchitis, pneumonia). That apparently equated to 10% of school days missed? And my kid is generally healthy- I can’t imagine how children with chronic health issues will manage if there is any eventual enforcement of this “policy.” At a minimum, there needs to be a differentiation between absences for a documented medical reason vs elective absences.

This. My kid is chronically absent due to a medical condition that prevents them from being in the building anywhere near full time. And doesn’t have the energy to do VA which is just as exhausting We ran out of IIS so he’s just absent.

I’d unenroll to homeschool but don’t want to give up on the idea of an education.

There aren’t good options for kids like mine. So, we miss school.

Wow, PP...

I homeschooled four kids. One has finished a BA and a Masters in Political Science; one just graduated last year from a T15 and is working in Finance on Wall Street; one is a Senior in college with a 3.9 applying to grad schools and one is a freshman in college with a 4.0 in Math and Finance. Maybe curb your stereotypes.

Ok, and?

There sure is a lot of great fiction here today.

[Anonymous]

my kid is labeled as chronically absent-all those absences are illness related that kid probably picked up in school. it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid will be chronically absent after Monday, when he misses one day for travel. All others were illness (including covid) plus one other travel day. Will we get a letter?

We got a letter for my 6 year old this fall for missing 6 days of school (for 2 different bouts of illness- bronchitis, pneumonia). That apparently equated to 10% of school days missed? And my kid is generally healthy- I can’t imagine how children with chronic health issues will manage if there is any eventual enforcement of this “policy.” At a minimum, there needs to be a differentiation between absences for a documented medical reason vs elective absences.

This. My kid is chronically absent due to a medical condition that prevents them from being in the building anywhere near full time. And doesn’t have the energy to do VA which is just as exhausting We ran out of IIS so he’s just absent.

I’d unenroll to homeschool but don’t want to give up on the idea of an education.

There aren’t good options for kids like mine. So, we miss school.

Wow, PP...

I homeschooled four kids. One has finished a BA and a Masters in Political Science; one just graduated last year from a T15 and is working in Finance on Wall Street; one is a Senior in college with a 3.9 applying to grad schools and one is a freshman in college with a 4.0 in Math and Finance. Maybe curb your stereotypes.

If your homeschooling experience was so great why troll the public education forums?