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

[Anonymous]

How does MCPS plan to address unexcused truancy for students who come to school but skipped class during the day? How long does it take them to notice a child in their care is missing? How long does it take them to notify a parent that a child didn’t show up for a class?

Those are key questions that need to be addressed if MCPS wants to fix the majority of cases of truancy. It’s also a student safety issue that MCPS is not accountable for keeping track of students in their care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The absences (excused) add up quickly for the dentist, the orthodontist and a visit to the pediatrician. Why the orthodontist isn’t open in the afternoons, I do not know. Same for dentist. The providers could be more helpful - especially when your kid needs to have a regular appointment.

Yeah, that's a shift that most of healthcare doesn't want to make. Probably because doctors have families too and don't want to be working from 3-10 pm.

Many dental offices (especially orthodontists) have office hours beginning at 7am. Some general dentists have Saturday hours. With all the MCPS half days and holidays, there’s opportunities to schedule appointments without missing class time.

Have you every tried to book a doctor's or dentist appointment on a half day or holiday? They get booked out weeks or months in advance. There's not enough of them to make that the go-to solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The absences (excused) add up quickly for the dentist, the orthodontist and a visit to the pediatrician. Why the orthodontist isn’t open in the afternoons, I do not know. Same for dentist. The providers could be more helpful - especially when your kid needs to have a regular appointment.

Yeah, that's a shift that most of healthcare doesn't want to make. Probably because doctors have families too and don't want to be working from 3-10 pm.

Many dental offices (especially orthodontists) have office hours beginning at 7am. Some general dentists have Saturday hours. With all the MCPS half days and holidays, there’s opportunities to schedule appointments without missing class time.

For what it's worth, this is not my experience. Our orthodontist opens at 8:00, and has half days on Fridays. There is no way to schedule an appointment that does not interfere with school time, so the best option is to figure out which classes can possibly be missed.

Maybe the above is true in your community, or at the most expensive practices, but it is certainly not universal.

[Anonymous]

And now MCPS teachers are chiming in and DIRECTLY attributing the 50% rule to absenteeism problem: https://moco360.media/2023/07/24/some-mcps-grading-policies-incentivize-absenteeism-teachers-say/

While educators are encouraged to demonstrate grace and flexibility in their grading practices, some teachers suggest an overemphasis on leniency disincentivizes students from staying engaged with their education.

“These kids are smart. They know how to game the system,” said one MCPS high school teacher, who asked to remain anonymous due to retaliation concerns. “If they get half credit for everything whether they do it or not, they’re not going to do it. So it’s a question of how we get kids to come to class when they know they really don’t have to do anything at all.”

Montgomery Blair High School teacher Danny Cole, a seven-year veteran MCPS educator, reiterated Saeed’s concerns.

“Because a lot of the kids know the system, the kids with lower standards who just want to pass will play that game,” he said. “You’ll have a kid who does nothing for the whole semester, and then last two weeks of May or June, they’ll do a couple assignments and bump themselves up to a D.”

He added that the policy also effectively “punishes” parents for communicating with their students’ school, because “they know if they pick up the phone, it might mean their kid gets a worse grade.”

“I just think it’s a terrible example,” he said. “I want my students to leave school with the life skills to do something. If they think they can get 50% for not doing anything and they go to work at Chipotle and don’t show up, they’re going to get fired. I see this as a real disservice to the purpose of school.”

Cole said he hopes the school district will consider reevaluating its grading and attendance policies to place greater emphasis on keeping students in class and engaged with their studies.

“My wife and I love teaching. We get paid well. We really appreciate the County Council and Dr. [Monifa] McKnight fully funding our raises. This is not saying ‘woe is us,’” he said. “But I would personally be willing to trade some of that new raise if it meant I had kids who are in class, care about coming and are interested in doing the work. I just think we’re not doing right by our students.”

[Anonymous]

Oh Danny boy, this is great - now what about convincing your very powerful union that has actively worked for many years - and largely succeeded to make MCPS a jobs for votes place?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And now MCPS teachers are chiming in and DIRECTLY attributing the 50% rule to absenteeism problem: https://moco360.media/2023/07/24/some-mcps-grading-policies-incentivize-absenteeism-teachers-say/

While educators are encouraged to demonstrate grace and flexibility in their grading practices, some teachers suggest an overemphasis on leniency disincentivizes students from staying engaged with their education.

“These kids are smart. They know how to game the system,” said one MCPS high school teacher, who asked to remain anonymous due to retaliation concerns. “If they get half credit for everything whether they do it or not, they’re not going to do it. So it’s a question of how we get kids to come to class when they know they really don’t have to do anything at all.”

Montgomery Blair High School teacher Danny Cole, a seven-year veteran MCPS educator, reiterated Saeed’s concerns.

“Because a lot of the kids know the system, the kids with lower standards who just want to pass will play that game,” he said. “You’ll have a kid who does nothing for the whole semester, and then last two weeks of May or June, they’ll do a couple assignments and bump themselves up to a D.”

He added that the policy also effectively “punishes” parents for communicating with their students’ school, because “they know if they pick up the phone, it might mean their kid gets a worse grade.”

“I just think it’s a terrible example,” he said. “I want my students to leave school with the life skills to do something. If they think they can get 50% for not doing anything and they go to work at Chipotle and don’t show up, they’re going to get fired. I see this as a real disservice to the purpose of school.”

Cole said he hopes the school district will consider reevaluating its grading and attendance policies to place greater emphasis on keeping students in class and engaged with their studies.

“My wife and I love teaching. We get paid well. We really appreciate the County Council and Dr. [Monifa] McKnight fully funding our raises. This is not saying ‘woe is us,’” he said. “But I would personally be willing to trade some of that new raise if it meant I had kids who are in class, care about coming and are interested in doing the work. I just think we’re not doing right by our students.”

Why would you trade a raise for something that is expected? Makes no sense. Students need to be responsible for the work. The raises have nothing to do with that so it makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

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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.

I think many of the teachers at my kid's school are out at least once a week too. So they're absent about 20% of the time.

We had two teachers in MS out at least twice a week. Really bad year.

In my experience the teachers are also absent more than any kids I know.

Here, folks, is the lazy parent in its natural habitat. Every single post about kids doing something wrong becomes “NEENER NEENER — teachers do it worse!!!”

Grow so very much up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The absences (excused) add up quickly for the dentist, the orthodontist and a visit to the pediatrician. Why the orthodontist isn’t open in the afternoons, I do not know. Same for dentist. The providers could be more helpful - especially when your kid needs to have a regular appointment.

Yeah, that's a shift that most of healthcare doesn't want to make. Probably because doctors have families too and don't want to be working from 3-10 pm.

Many dental offices (especially orthodontists) have office hours beginning at 7am. Some general dentists have Saturday hours. With all the MCPS half days and holidays, there’s opportunities to schedule appointments without missing class time.

Have you every tried to book a doctor's or dentist appointment on a half day or holiday? They get booked out weeks or months in advance. There's not enough of them to make that the go-to solution.

I knew this excuse was coming. Yes, dear, we know that. That’s why you look at the calendar you get months before the school year even starts, plan ahead and make your regular appointments “weeks or months in advance.” If your ped doesn’t have same day work-ins for sick visits, get a new one or go to urgent care. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The absences (excused) add up quickly for the dentist, the orthodontist and a visit to the pediatrician. Why the orthodontist isn’t open in the afternoons, I do not know. Same for dentist. The providers could be more helpful - especially when your kid needs to have a regular appointment.

Yeah, that's a shift that most of healthcare doesn't want to make. Probably because doctors have families too and don't want to be working from 3-10 pm.

Many dental offices (especially orthodontists) have office hours beginning at 7am. Some general dentists have Saturday hours. With all the MCPS half days and holidays, there’s opportunities to schedule appointments without missing class time.

Have you every tried to book a doctor's or dentist appointment on a half day or holiday? They get booked out weeks or months in advance. There's not enough of them to make that the go-to solution.

I knew this excuse was coming. Yes, dear, we know that. That’s why you look at the calendar you get months before the school year even starts, plan ahead and make your regular appointments “weeks or months in advance.” If your ped doesn’t have same day work-ins for sick visits, get a new one or go to urgent care. Done.

DP. I hope you aren't a teacher because... Wow. Use your brain. This is not a solution to absenteeism (I'll give you a hint, people booking up the appointments months in advance does not increase the supply of those appointments)

[Anonymous]

Mcps sucks at supporting teachers. The principals force us to inflate the grades with the threat of being nonrenewed. If you are less than 3 years in they make you do extra overtime and then fire away bc they know you will do anything to keep your job. PAR scumbags need to bully teachers around to show they have the unsupported and punitive additive to become a principal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The absences (excused) add up quickly for the dentist, the orthodontist and a visit to the pediatrician. Why the orthodontist isn’t open in the afternoons, I do not know. Same for dentist. The providers could be more helpful - especially when your kid needs to have a regular appointment.

Yeah, that's a shift that most of healthcare doesn't want to make. Probably because doctors have families too and don't want to be working from 3-10 pm.

Many dental offices (especially orthodontists) have office hours beginning at 7am. Some general dentists have Saturday hours. With all the MCPS half days and holidays, there’s opportunities to schedule appointments without missing class time.

Have you every tried to book a doctor's or dentist appointment on a half day or holiday? They get booked out weeks or months in advance. There's not enough of them to make that the go-to solution.

I knew this excuse was coming. Yes, dear, we know that. That’s why you look at the calendar you get months before the school year even starts, plan ahead and make your regular appointments “weeks or months in advance.” If your ped doesn’t have same day work-ins for sick visits, get a new one or go to urgent care. Done.

DP. I hope you aren't a teacher because... Wow. Use your brain. This is not a solution to absenteeism (I'll give you a hint, people booking up the appointments months in advance does not increase the supply of those appointments)

PP sounds crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The absences (excused) add up quickly for the dentist, the orthodontist and a visit to the pediatrician. Why the orthodontist isn’t open in the afternoons, I do not know. Same for dentist. The providers could be more helpful - especially when your kid needs to have a regular appointment.

Yeah, that's a shift that most of healthcare doesn't want to make. Probably because doctors have families too and don't want to be working from 3-10 pm.

Many dental offices (especially orthodontists) have office hours beginning at 7am. Some general dentists have Saturday hours. With all the MCPS half days and holidays, there’s opportunities to schedule appointments without missing class time.

Have you every tried to book a doctor's or dentist appointment on a half day or holiday? They get booked out weeks or months in advance. There's not enough of them to make that the go-to solution.

I knew this excuse was coming. Yes, dear, we know that. That’s why you look at the calendar you get months before the school year even starts, plan ahead and make your regular appointments “weeks or months in advance.” If your ped doesn’t have same day work-ins for sick visits, get a new one or go to urgent care. Done.

Right. Also, barring an unusual situation, most kids need one annual checkup and 2 teeth cleanings per calendar year. You could schedule it so the annual checkup and one of those cleanings is over the summer, so only one teeth cleaning falls during the school year.

I understand things like orthodontics might require more frequent appointments, but generally speaking doctor and dentist visits really aren’t that frequent for most kids.

[Anonymous]

My kid’s dentist reserves the appointments outside of regular school hours for high schoolers, to make it easier for them to avoid missing school.

[Anonymous]

People, your kids missing school due to a handful of appointments are not who they are talking about. Students are missing 50+ days of school year after year and nothing happens. They are no consequences so they keep doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The absences (excused) add up quickly for the dentist, the orthodontist and a visit to the pediatrician. Why the orthodontist isn’t open in the afternoons, I do not know. Same for dentist. The providers could be more helpful - especially when your kid needs to have a regular appointment.

Yeah, that's a shift that most of healthcare doesn't want to make. Probably because doctors have families too and don't want to be working from 3-10 pm.

Many dental offices (especially orthodontists) have office hours beginning at 7am. Some general dentists have Saturday hours. With all the MCPS half days and holidays, there’s opportunities to schedule appointments without missing class time.

Have you every tried to book a doctor's or dentist appointment on a half day or holiday? They get booked out weeks or months in advance. There's not enough of them to make that the go-to solution.

I knew this excuse was coming. Yes, dear, we know that. That’s why you look at the calendar you get months before the school year even starts, plan ahead and make your regular appointments “weeks or months in advance.” If your ped doesn’t have same day work-ins for sick visits, get a new one or go to urgent care. Done.

Right. Also, barring an unusual situation, most kids need one annual checkup and 2 teeth cleanings per calendar year. You could schedule it so the annual checkup and one of those cleanings is over the summer, so only one teeth cleaning falls during the school year.

I understand things like orthodontics might require more frequent appointments, but generally speaking doctor and dentist visits really aren’t that frequent for most kids.

Lol so kids don’t get sick or injured and require doctors visits outside of the annual physical? Are you insane? And do you think doctors can cram all of their physicals into the summer?

Are you even a parent because only a non-parent could think like this.