Grading & Reporting Updates for SY 2026-2027

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Attendance: Absences from skipping class disqualify for make-up work.

How on earth does MCPS plan on identifying, assessing and discerning which absences are legitimately due to skipping and not errors on their part due to subs not knowing how to take attendance, teachers forgetting to do attendance, or tardies being mistakenly marked as absences?

There's no way they have the scale and manpower to do this.

As a teacher I can do this by requiring a student submit proof of excused absence when they attempt to turn in the assignment late. I'm not denying them from doing it. I'm just denying them from getting credit for it when they can't prove that it was excused. It's not hard to produce a doctors note, e-mail from guidance, teacher, coach, administrator, etc. A parent writing a note saying "Student overslept" is not an excused note.

You are not living in the real world. My limited emails to the guidance counselor for legitimate things go into the abyss with no response at least half the time. I would never bother them with this. I don’t drag my kid to the doctor (and pay for the visit out of pocket due to my high deductible plan) the second he has a fever/virus, but I do keep him home and treat with rest/fluids. You want an obituary emailed to you if grandma dies and he’s out to attend the funeral?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Attendance: Absences from skipping class disqualify for make-up work.

How on earth does MCPS plan on identifying, assessing and discerning which absences are legitimately due to skipping and not errors on their part due to subs not knowing how to take attendance, teachers forgetting to do attendance, or tardies being mistakenly marked as absences?

There's no way they have the scale and manpower to do this.

As a teacher I can do this by requiring a student submit proof of excused absence when they attempt to turn in the assignment late. I'm not denying them from doing it. I'm just denying them from getting credit for it when they can't prove that it was excused. It's not hard to produce a doctors note, e-mail from guidance, teacher, coach, administrator, etc. A parent writing a note saying "Student overslept" is not an excused note.

You are not living in the real world. My limited emails to the guidance counselor for legitimate things go into the abyss with no response at least half the time. I would never bother them with this. I don’t drag my kid to the doctor (and pay for the visit out of pocket due to my high deductible plan) the second he has a fever/virus, but I do keep him home and treat with rest/fluids. You want an obituary emailed to you if grandma dies and he’s out to attend the funeral?

I use the same exact standard that the county uses for athletics. No doctors note, no participation. School and county seems 100% on board with supporting that so they have no issue supporting it here as well.

[Anonymous]

^^
Adding to this, the fact you are e-mailing the counselor instead of the student who was physically meeting with the counselor, causing said absence is the biggest issue I see here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Attendance: Absences from skipping class disqualify for make-up work.

How on earth does MCPS plan on identifying, assessing and discerning which absences are legitimately due to skipping and not errors on their part due to subs not knowing how to take attendance, teachers forgetting to do attendance, or tardies being mistakenly marked as absences?

There's no way they have the scale and manpower to do this.

As a teacher I can do this by requiring a student submit proof of excused absence when they attempt to turn in the assignment late. I'm not denying them from doing it. I'm just denying them from getting credit for it when they can't prove that it was excused. It's not hard to produce a doctors note, e-mail from guidance, teacher, coach, administrator, etc. A parent writing a note saying "Student overslept" is not an excused note.

You are not living in the real world. My limited emails to the guidance counselor for legitimate things go into the abyss with no response at least half the time. I would never bother them with this. I don’t drag my kid to the doctor (and pay for the visit out of pocket due to my high deductible plan) the second he has a fever/virus, but I do keep him home and treat with rest/fluids. You want an obituary emailed to you if grandma dies and he’s out to attend the funeral?

I use the same exact standard that the county uses for athletics. No doctors note, no participation. School and county seems 100% on board with supporting that so they have no issue supporting it here as well.

This is the standard for athletics because if you go to an appointment and later go to a ball game, you need a doctor’s note. It’s easy to get because you’re already at the doctor. If you’re SICK, you shouldn’t be coming later to the ball game. So you don’t need a doctor’s note because you won’t be participating. Requiring someone who is sick to go to the doctor and get a note saying they were sick yesterday (rather than just getting a note from a parent) is beyond what the county requires for athletics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Attendance: Absences from skipping class disqualify for make-up work.

How on earth does MCPS plan on identifying, assessing and discerning which absences are legitimately due to skipping and not errors on their part due to subs not knowing how to take attendance, teachers forgetting to do attendance, or tardies being mistakenly marked as absences?

There's no way they have the scale and manpower to do this.

As a teacher I can do this by requiring a student submit proof of excused absence when they attempt to turn in the assignment late. I'm not denying them from doing it. I'm just denying them from getting credit for it when they can't prove that it was excused. It's not hard to produce a doctors note, e-mail from guidance, teacher, coach, administrator, etc. A parent writing a note saying "Student overslept" is not an excused note.

You are not living in the real world. My limited emails to the guidance counselor for legitimate things go into the abyss with no response at least half the time. I would never bother them with this. I don’t drag my kid to the doctor (and pay for the visit out of pocket due to my high deductible plan) the second he has a fever/virus, but I do keep him home and treat with rest/fluids. You want an obituary emailed to you if grandma dies and he’s out to attend the funeral?

I use the same exact standard that the county uses for athletics. No doctors note, no participation. School and county seems 100% on board with supporting that so they have no issue supporting it here as well.

This is the standard for athletics because if you go to an appointment and later go to a ball game, you need a doctor’s note. It’s easy to get because you’re already at the doctor. If you’re SICK, you shouldn’t be coming later to the ball game. So you don’t need a doctor’s note because you won’t be participating. Requiring someone who is sick to go to the doctor and get a note saying they were sick yesterday (rather than just getting a note from a parent) is beyond what the county requires for athletics.

I have a kid on my team who understandably knew how to game the system and when he knew he was going to be late to school, he stopped at urgent care and did a 30 dollar walk in saying he saw a doctor. Didn't say what for. Just that he saw a doctor. Good enough for me. Submitted like 9 of them this season.

[Anonymous]

The County does require a doctors note if the kid was out sick for a whole 5 day week. But not for less than that. Teacher should not demand doctors note if school policy doesn’t require it but could demand a parent’s note saying the kid was sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^
Adding to this, the fact you are e-mailing the counselor instead of the student who was physically meeting with the counselor, causing said absence is the biggest issue I see here.

Neither of my kids has ever met with the counselor a single time. Every time I have needed to email the counselor it has specifically been a thing a parent would need to email about, not the student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do the HSs apply these rules with excused absences/illness? I know a one day absence is usually no big deal in terms of due dates/deadlines, but what about when a kid misses a whole week? I hate having my sick kid worrying about getting work done and turned in remotely.

Work missed for an excused absence can be made up in coordination with the teachers. This is only about unexcused absences.

Except the amount of notifications Inget about unexcused absences for my kid when they are excused for things like band, field trips, leadership experiences, etc. Like the teachers give a list and still it shows the kids as unexcused.

As a teacher, I do not have an option in Synergy to designate an excused absence. I can only mark absent. The school attendance office has to be the one to designate if its excused or not.

Tardies on the other hand I can have a choice between Excused and Unexcused.

As a teacher why are you posting during school hours?

Teachers are allowed to take breaks, just like any other professional.

These sorts of posts are so ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^
Adding to this, the fact you are e-mailing the counselor instead of the student who was physically meeting with the counselor, causing said absence is the biggest issue I see here.

Neither of my kids has ever met with the counselor a single time. Every time I have needed to email the counselor it has specifically been a thing a parent would need to email about, not the student.

Then guess what. The post wasn't directed at your kids. The universe does not revolve around your clearly sheltered and ill-prepared children.

[Anonymous]

It may be hard for some parents to understand but many children like to abuse basic things like the counselor or the health room in order to avoid class. I have students who stop by the counseling office at least twice a day without appointments in order to avoid class.

I also have plenty of children who have actual reasons to see the counselor once or twice a week and miss class for that. If those students don't tell the counselor to e-mail me then it's an unexcused absence despite it being an official school meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Attendance: Absences from skipping class disqualify for make-up work.

How on earth does MCPS plan on identifying, assessing and discerning which absences are legitimately due to skipping and not errors on their part due to subs not knowing how to take attendance, teachers forgetting to do attendance, or tardies being mistakenly marked as absences?

There's no way they have the scale and manpower to do this.

As a teacher I can do this by requiring a student submit proof of excused absence when they attempt to turn in the assignment late. I'm not denying them from doing it. I'm just denying them from getting credit for it when they can't prove that it was excused. It's not hard to produce a doctors note, e-mail from guidance, teacher, coach, administrator, etc. A parent writing a note saying "Student overslept" is not an excused note.

You are not living in the real world. My limited emails to the guidance counselor for legitimate things go into the abyss with no response at least half the time. I would never bother them with this. I don’t drag my kid to the doctor (and pay for the visit out of pocket due to my high deductible plan) the second he has a fever/virus, but I do keep him home and treat with rest/fluids. You want an obituary emailed to you if grandma dies and he’s out to attend the funeral?

If you call the school and let them know your child is sick, it will be marked as excused. If you don't do this, it will be marked as unexcused. Call the attendance secretary or send in a note. It is that simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do the HSs apply these rules with excused absences/illness? I know a one day absence is usually no big deal in terms of due dates/deadlines, but what about when a kid misses a whole week? I hate having my sick kid worrying about getting work done and turned in remotely.

Work missed for an excused absence can be made up in coordination with the teachers. This is only about unexcused absences.

Except the amount of notifications Inget about unexcused absences for my kid when they are excused for things like band, field trips, leadership experiences, etc. Like the teachers give a list and still it shows the kids as unexcused.

Usually, the staff member who oversees the activity, such as a band, field trips, etc., will not submit the attendance list to the attendance office until it is done or they have returned to school. That way, students who are on the list to go don't skip it and skip class without being marked absent at all. If something hasn't been adjusted by the next business day, then reach out directly to the attendance office secretary, who has all the power.

Our school is really bad at this. Even when I reach out, it does not get adjusted. If there are actual consequences, then I will start to escalate when it’s not excised and it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Attendance: Absences from skipping class disqualify for make-up work.

How on earth does MCPS plan on identifying, assessing and discerning which absences are legitimately due to skipping and not errors on their part due to subs not knowing how to take attendance, teachers forgetting to do attendance, or tardies being mistakenly marked as absences?

There's no way they have the scale and manpower to do this.

As a teacher I can do this by requiring a student submit proof of excused absence when they attempt to turn in the assignment late. I'm not denying them from doing it. I'm just denying them from getting credit for it when they can't prove that it was excused. It's not hard to produce a doctors note, e-mail from guidance, teacher, coach, administrator, etc. A parent writing a note saying "Student overslept" is not an excused note.

You are not living in the real world. My limited emails to the guidance counselor for legitimate things go into the abyss with no response at least half the time. I would never bother them with this. I don’t drag my kid to the doctor (and pay for the visit out of pocket due to my high deductible plan) the second he has a fever/virus, but I do keep him home and treat with rest/fluids. You want an obituary emailed to you if grandma dies and he’s out to attend the funeral?

If you call the school and let them know your child is sick, it will be marked as excused. If you don't do this, it will be marked as unexcused. Call the attendance secretary or send in a note. It is that simple.

Yes I know how it is actually supposed to work but there is a know-it-all-teacher on here who thinks he or she can demand extra proof and can mark excused absences as unexcused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Attendance: Absences from skipping class disqualify for make-up work.

How on earth does MCPS plan on identifying, assessing and discerning which absences are legitimately due to skipping and not errors on their part due to subs not knowing how to take attendance, teachers forgetting to do attendance, or tardies being mistakenly marked as absences?

There's no way they have the scale and manpower to do this.

As a teacher I can do this by requiring a student submit proof of excused absence when they attempt to turn in the assignment late. I'm not denying them from doing it. I'm just denying them from getting credit for it when they can't prove that it was excused. It's not hard to produce a doctors note, e-mail from guidance, teacher, coach, administrator, etc. A parent writing a note saying "Student overslept" is not an excused note.

You are not living in the real world. My limited emails to the guidance counselor for legitimate things go into the abyss with no response at least half the time. I would never bother them with this. I don’t drag my kid to the doctor (and pay for the visit out of pocket due to my high deductible plan) the second he has a fever/virus, but I do keep him home and treat with rest/fluids. You want an obituary emailed to you if grandma dies and he’s out to attend the funeral?

If you call the school and let them know your child is sick, it will be marked as excused. If you don't do this, it will be marked as unexcused. Call the attendance secretary or send in a note. It is that simple.

Yes I know how it is actually supposed to work but there is a know-it-all-teacher on here who thinks he or she can demand extra proof and can mark excused absences as unexcused.

You are misrepresenting the teacher’s words. I’m sure this teacher will not quibble if you call the school and say your child is sick and get the absence excused. By the way parents and kids frequently lie about their child being sick. That is what the teacher was referring to. Stop being a problem parent. It will not serve your child well in the long run

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Attendance: Absences from skipping class disqualify for make-up work.

How on earth does MCPS plan on identifying, assessing and discerning which absences are legitimately due to skipping and not errors on their part due to subs not knowing how to take attendance, teachers forgetting to do attendance, or tardies being mistakenly marked as absences?

There's no way they have the scale and manpower to do this.

As a teacher I can do this by requiring a student submit proof of excused absence when they attempt to turn in the assignment late. I'm not denying them from doing it. I'm just denying them from getting credit for it when they can't prove that it was excused. It's not hard to produce a doctors note, e-mail from guidance, teacher, coach, administrator, etc. A parent writing a note saying "Student overslept" is not an excused note.

You are not living in the real world. My limited emails to the guidance counselor for legitimate things go into the abyss with no response at least half the time. I would never bother them with this. I don’t drag my kid to the doctor (and pay for the visit out of pocket due to my high deductible plan) the second he has a fever/virus, but I do keep him home and treat with rest/fluids. You want an obituary emailed to you if grandma dies and he’s out to attend the funeral?

If you call the school and let them know your child is sick, it will be marked as excused. If you don't do this, it will be marked as unexcused. Call the attendance secretary or send in a note. It is that simple.

I can tell you that year to date, in my HS between all 5 of my classes, I have probably seen less than 20 occasions where a student in my class was assigned an Illness code by the school attendance secretary. That means parents aren't calling. If you can't do your minimal responsibility then I'm not doing anything extra either. It's not my job to find out why your kid isn't in class. Everyone is unexcused until someone provides me with an excuse.