DC Prep=DC Punishment!

[Anonymous]

As I've seen posted before, this school really is a Boot Camp. Several of my Girl Scouts are students here and they were given notice that they can not go on field trips if they missed as few as two days of school. This is all as an effort to meet the charter attendance regulations but in the process I watched two 4 year old cry their hearts out. Punish kids and keep them from going to the museum to prove a point to the parents? How cruel!!! I would never send my kids here.

[Anonymous]

Do you know the costs to a school of not making AYP?

I do not havea child at DC Prep, but they are taking attendance seriously. The school understands how a child in the classroom everyday supports learning and they are establishing clear expectations with families.

I know of a family who took 3 weeks off in January to visit family in South America. Do you think this child returned to the classroom in the same place with respect to academics as his peers? How much additional work did this place on the teachers? (who are already overworked?) How about taking away time from the other children who were in class for the previous 3 weeks as the teachers try to bring him up to speed.

I agree that it is unfortunate for 4YOs to be told that they can not go on a field trip b/c they missed school. But I think that many families use PreS and PreK as daycare as opposed to school do not take the schedule or start and end times seriously.

[Anonymous]

It is probably good training for life in the working world, building good habits young and making it second nature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As I've seen posted before, this school really is a Boot Camp. Several of my Girl Scouts are students here and they were given notice that they can not go on field trips if they missed as few as two days of school. This is all as an effort to meet the charter attendance regulations but in the process I watched two 4 year old cry their hearts out. Punish kids and keep them from going to the museum to prove a point to the parents? How cruel!!! I would never send my kids here.

Well, what's your DCPS home school? If it's a WOTP DCPS, then of course you wouldn't. But, for the vast majority of EOTP DCPS schools, their scores are better, therefore those decisions make sense.


Were you under the impression that every school is the best school for every child? In my experience it's not "one size fits all."

[Anonymous]

PS and PK certainly aren't being measured for AYP...

[Anonymous]

I believe that there's been a recent crackdown on schools with attendance problems; this could be a panicked reaction to that.

[Anonymous]

I certainly understand the importance of attendance, but aren't there other ways to make the parents feel it rather than the child? As adults not getting to go on a field trip may seem small, but a kid who has been looking forward to this and then has to stay behind and watch her classmates leave, my 4 year old would be crushed. especially when you've done nothing wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As I've seen posted before, this school really is a Boot Camp. Several of my Girl Scouts are students here and they were given notice that they can not go on field trips if they missed as few as two days of school. This is all as an effort to meet the charter attendance regulations but in the process I watched two 4 year old cry their hearts out. Punish kids and keep them from going to the museum to prove a point to the parents? How cruel!!! I would never send my kids here.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I certainly understand the importance of attendance, but aren't there other ways to make the parents feel it rather than the child? As adults not getting to go on a field trip may seem small, but a kid who has been looking forward to this and then has to stay behind and watch her classmates leave, my 4 year old would be crushed. especially when you've done nothing wrong.

Yes, there are and charters could catch on. DCPS is putting in place a policy whereby OOB students with attendance problems (absences and tardies) will loose their OOB spot and be enrolled in their in-boundary school. Sounds like the right approach to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I certainly understand the importance of attendance, but aren't there other ways to make the parents feel it rather than the child? As adults not getting to go on a field trip may seem small, but a kid who has been looking forward to this and then has to stay behind and watch her classmates leave, my 4 year old would be crushed. especially when you've done nothing wrong.

Yes, there are and charters could catch on. DCPS is putting in place a policy whereby OOB students with attendance problems (absences and tardies) will loose their OOB spot and be enrolled in their in-boundary school. Sounds like the right approach to me.

THIS! ^

That is a much fairer system in my view. I am sure that there will be those who will disagree, but I know that it's not always a matter of hardship that is causing chronic tardies and absenteeism. Oh no. There are some very well-heeled and able bodied people who just can't get with the program. The OOB lottery is not a right. This policy will give some the incentive to do the right thing. And those that can't get the children to school every day and on time.... new spaces for those on the waiting list who can comply.

I can see building in hardship exemptions for those who are really in crisis (homelessness, temporary guardianships, serious illness, etc.). That of course would have to be documented and verified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I certainly understand the importance of attendance, but aren't there other ways to make the parents feel it rather than the child? As adults not getting to go on a field trip may seem small, but a kid who has been looking forward to this and then has to stay behind and watch her classmates leave, my 4 year old would be crushed. especially when you've done nothing wrong.

Yes, there are and charters could catch on. DCPS is putting in place a policy whereby OOB students with attendance problems (absences and tardies) will loose their OOB spot and be enrolled in their in-boundary school. Sounds like the right approach to me.

Okay, this may be a solution to half of the problem. What punishment is meted out to IB students with attendance problems?

[Anonymous]

None--because it's their IB school. Therefore, they have a right to attend that school regardless of attendance issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS and PK certainly aren't being measured for AYP...

Attendance percentage of the whole school (including PS and PK) counts toward AYP. I checked on this when my daughter was in PS and she missed a lot of days due to fevers. I felt bad when I found out (but of course she couldn't go to school with a fever).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I certainly understand the importance of attendance, but aren't there other ways to make the parents feel it rather than the child? As adults not getting to go on a field trip may seem small, but a kid who has been looking forward to this and then has to stay behind and watch her classmates leave, my 4 year old would be crushed. especially when you've done nothing wrong.

Yes, there are and charters could catch on. DCPS is putting in place a policy whereby OOB students with attendance problems (absences and tardies) will loose their OOB spot and be enrolled in their in-boundary school. Sounds like the right approach to me.

THIS! ^

That is a much fairer system in my view. I am sure that there will be those who will disagree, but I know that it's not always a matter of hardship that is causing chronic tardies and absenteeism. Oh no. There are some very well-heeled and able bodied people who just can't get with the program. The OOB lottery is not a right. This policy will give some the incentive to do the right thing. And those that can't get the children to school every day and on time.... new spaces for those on the waiting list who can comply.

I can see building in hardship exemptions for those who are really in crisis (homelessness, temporary guardianships, serious illness, etc.). That of course would have to be documented and verified.

As a parent of an OOB student I find these comments and similar ones indicative of an us versus them attitude. If kids are showing up late everyone should get the same punishment. OOB kids should not get special punishment. What next different water fountains for OOB students? You live in the neighborhood you don't own the school.

[Anonymous]

I completely disagree OOB parent. It is not your right to attend a school that is not in your neighborhood. If OOB students are chronically late, then perhaps they should attend a school that is closer to their home. If you want to show up late to a particular school, then move IB. And while I don't own the school, I say that the higher property taxes I pay gives me the right to attend and stay in my IB school, regardless of my child's promptness. Chalk that one up to "that's life."