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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have bones to pick with MCPS, but absenteism is not it. It's very hard to get students into school who do not want to be there, because if you enforce punitive measures, all it does is push them further away, and you're left with dropouts who hold up stores in broad daylight and deal drugs.

However, MCPS and all other schools in the nation should put pressure on state legislatures to force them to discipline students who are violent, verbally and physically (with special plans for those with disabilities). Regular students cannot learn in disruptive environments, and teachers an staff currently have no power to punish students for assaulting them, or other students.

Likewise, MCPS has had sexual and other assaults in many of its schools, even elementary schools, and it has been demonstrated that in certain instances it did not comply with standards of reporting to police. I am thinking about the Damascus rape case specifically, but I'm sure there are others.

If your child reports an assault at school, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for the school to cover it up.

I disagree. Absenteeism plays a role in a lot of the disfunction going on in schools right now.

When teens are allowed to be absent and roaming the streets, that's how they are enabled to commit crimes and link up with bad influences and associates like drug dealers or gang members.

Furthermore, there's no hope in closing the achievement gap if you can't get the kids to show up to be exposed to or engage with the content.

Not to mention state law obliges MCPS to do everything it can to ensure those 18 and under are in school, as dictated by the letter of the law.

I 100% agree that disruptive kids should not be in the same learning environment as those who want to learn, but the answer isn't to ignore those who are intentionally skipping school. The answer to me is that we need to reinstate the alternative schools for those with behavioral problems, which still compels them to be in some sort of school environment, but doesn't allow them to disrupt things.

Law enforcement is there to provide structure and accountability when citizens get out of line. We shouldn't shy away from that.

Disagree all you want. Are you going to shackle students to desks? Because the teens who have chronic absenteeism aren’t going to be induced by threats to not graduate. They either already dropped out in their minds or are facing such life circumstances at home that they cannot attend school even if they want to.

[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.

I don’t disagree with you, but how are you going enforce that kids are in school? The parents can’t, people don’t want the police involved, so how do you make sure kids are in seats and not Pushing drugs, robbing a car jacking? At some point you can’t force somebody to do what they don’t want to do. It really is their choice at some point. At the same time they should not be rewarded with a degree.

[Anonymous]

It's not MCPS fault, not should it be their responsibility, that for whatever reason parent share unable or unwilling to send kids to school.

The most we can expect of MCPS is to provide transportation and meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have bones to pick with MCPS, but absenteism is not it. It's very hard to get students into school who do not want to be there, because if you enforce punitive measures, all it does is push them further away, and you're left with dropouts who hold up stores in broad daylight and deal drugs.

However, MCPS and all other schools in the nation should put pressure on state legislatures to force them to discipline students who are violent, verbally and physically (with special plans for those with disabilities). Regular students cannot learn in disruptive environments, and teachers an staff currently have no power to punish students for assaulting them, or other students.

Likewise, MCPS has had sexual and other assaults in many of its schools, even elementary schools, and it has been demonstrated that in certain instances it did not comply with standards of reporting to police. I am thinking about the Damascus rape case specifically, but I'm sure there are others.

If your child reports an assault at school, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for the school to cover it up.

I disagree. Absenteeism plays a role in a lot of the disfunction going on in schools right now.

When teens are allowed to be absent and roaming the streets, that's how they are enabled to commit crimes and link up with bad influences and associates like drug dealers or gang members.

Furthermore, there's no hope in closing the achievement gap if you can't get the kids to show up to be exposed to or engage with the content.

Not to mention state law obliges MCPS to do everything it can to ensure those 18 and under are in school, as dictated by the letter of the law.

I 100% agree that disruptive kids should not be in the same learning environment as those who want to learn, but the answer isn't to ignore those who are intentionally skipping school. The answer to me is that we need to reinstate the alternative schools for those with behavioral problems, which still compels them to be in some sort of school environment, but doesn't allow them to disrupt things.

Law enforcement is there to provide structure and accountability when citizens get out of line. We shouldn't shy away from that.

Disagree all you want. Are you going to shackle students to desks? Because the teens who have chronic absenteeism aren’t going to be induced by threats to not graduate. They either already dropped out in their minds or are facing such life circumstances at home that they cannot attend school even if they want to.

Sounds like something MCPS leadership and other relevant government agencies need to suss out.

If a citizen is summoned to court and they don't show up, there's a consequence. If you're called for jury duty and don't show up, there's a consequence.

School for minors is the same. At least with the way law is currently written. If we want it to be a free-for-all, then we should change the law that compels and obliges minors to be in school.

If there are issues with the home environment, MCPS has a duty to investigate and report whatever they find out to the relevant partner agencies, such as CPS who are responsible for investigating unfit parents or unsafe home environments. Everyone has a role to play with the chronic absenteeism issue. Ignoring the problem isn't helping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not MCPS fault, not should it be their responsibility, that for whatever reason parent share unable or unwilling to send kids to school.

The most we can expect of MCPS is to provide transportation and meals.

That's not true. If MCPS is doing its due diligence and following up on a chronically absent child but getting NO response from the parents, then MCPS needs to refer that issue to the appropriate agencies for educational neglect and/or truancy. There are laws and protocols on the books for this:

Any person with legal custody or care and control of a child who 5 years old or older and under 16, who fails to see that the child attends school or receives instruction as required by Maryland law, is guilty of a misdemeanor. If convicted, the person may be subject to fines, imprisonment, or both

https://www.peoples-law.org/truancy#:~:text=Any%20person%20with%20legal%20custody,fines%2C%20imprisonment%2C%20or%20both.

But too many MCPS officials can't be bothered with the paperwork, either cause they lack the time or just find it easier to ignore it or they think it's "mean" or "racist" to call CPS or law enforcement on neglectful parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have bones to pick with MCPS, but absenteism is not it. It's very hard to get students into school who do not want to be there, because if you enforce punitive measures, all it does is push them further away, and you're left with dropouts who hold up stores in broad daylight and deal drugs.

However, MCPS and all other schools in the nation should put pressure on state legislatures to force them to discipline students who are violent, verbally and physically (with special plans for those with disabilities). Regular students cannot learn in disruptive environments, and teachers an staff currently have no power to punish students for assaulting them, or other students.

Likewise, MCPS has had sexual and other assaults in many of its schools, even elementary schools, and it has been demonstrated that in certain instances it did not comply with standards of reporting to police. I am thinking about the Damascus rape case specifically, but I'm sure there are others.

If your child reports an assault at school, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for the school to cover it up.

I disagree. Absenteeism plays a role in a lot of the disfunction going on in schools right now.

When teens are allowed to be absent and roaming the streets, that's how they are enabled to commit crimes and link up with bad influences and associates like drug dealers or gang members.

Furthermore, there's no hope in closing the achievement gap if you can't get the kids to show up to be exposed to or engage with the content.

Not to mention state law obliges MCPS to do everything it can to ensure those 18 and under are in school, as dictated by the letter of the law.

I 100% agree that disruptive kids should not be in the same learning environment as those who want to learn, but the answer isn't to ignore those who are intentionally skipping school. The answer to me is that we need to reinstate the alternative schools for those with behavioral problems, which still compels them to be in some sort of school environment, but doesn't allow them to disrupt things.

Law enforcement is there to provide structure and accountability when citizens get out of line. We shouldn't shy away from that.

Disagree all you want. Are you going to shackle students to desks? Because the teens who have chronic absenteeism aren’t going to be induced by threats to not graduate. They either already dropped out in their minds or are facing such life circumstances at home that they cannot attend school even if they want to.

Sounds like something MCPS leadership and other relevant government agencies need to suss out.

If a citizen is summoned to court and they don't show up, there's a consequence. If you're called for jury duty and don't show up, there's a consequence.

School for minors is the same. At least with the way law is currently written. If we want it to be a free-for-all, then we should change the law that compels and obliges minors to be in school.

If there are issues with the home environment, MCPS has a duty to investigate and report whatever they find out to the relevant partner agencies, such as CPS who are responsible for investigating unfit parents or unsafe home environments. Everyone has a role to play with the chronic absenteeism issue. Ignoring the problem isn't helping.

The consequences are jail or fines.

[Anonymous]

From the State's Attorney's Office:

7. Who should or must report possible cases of neglect?

In Maryland, the laws regarding child abuse and neglect require any health practitioner (doctor, nurse, etc.), police officer, educator or human service worker who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse, neglect or mental injury, shall report such cases to the appropriate law enforcement agency. All other citizens who have reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse, neglect or metal injury are also required to make reports.

Source: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/SAO/units/family/neglectfaq.html

So for those of you who keep INSISTING chronic absenteeism is not MCPS's business, you are dead wrong. As mandated reporters, educators have a DUTY to report this stuff. It's not ok to look the other way, and educational neglect is in fact a form of child neglect according to MD state law:

1.What is neglect?
Neglect includes any maltreatment or negligence that harms a child's health, welfare or safety. It may include physical, emotional or educational neglect.

Please stop making excuses for this. It's not ok, it's not normal, and we should all be concerned.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have bones to pick with MCPS, but absenteism is not it. It's very hard to get students into school who do not want to be there, because if you enforce punitive measures, all it does is push them further away, and you're left with dropouts who hold up stores in broad daylight and deal drugs.

However, MCPS and all other schools in the nation should put pressure on state legislatures to force them to discipline students who are violent, verbally and physically (with special plans for those with disabilities). Regular students cannot learn in disruptive environments, and teachers an staff currently have no power to punish students for assaulting them, or other students.

Likewise, MCPS has had sexual and other assaults in many of its schools, even elementary schools, and it has been demonstrated that in certain instances it did not comply with standards of reporting to police. I am thinking about the Damascus rape case specifically, but I'm sure there are others.

If your child reports an assault at school, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for the school to cover it up.

I disagree. Absenteeism plays a role in a lot of the disfunction going on in schools right now.

When teens are allowed to be absent and roaming the streets, that's how they are enabled to commit crimes and link up with bad influences and associates like drug dealers or gang members.

Furthermore, there's no hope in closing the achievement gap if you can't get the kids to show up to be exposed to or engage with the content.

Not to mention state law obliges MCPS to do everything it can to ensure those 18 and under are in school, as dictated by the letter of the law.

I 100% agree that disruptive kids should not be in the same learning environment as those who want to learn, but the answer isn't to ignore those who are intentionally skipping school. The answer to me is that we need to reinstate the alternative schools for those with behavioral problems, which still compels them to be in some sort of school environment, but doesn't allow them to disrupt things.

Law enforcement is there to provide structure and accountability when citizens get out of line. We shouldn't shy away from that.

I mean, you can lead a horse to water… But if they are skipping school and their parents know full well what they’re doing then you can’t make them learn. It’s time to realize that not everyone is going to college (or even necessarily graduating high school).

I don’t think we should be graduating kids that are truant.

You would be shocked at some of the kids who are given a MCPS diploma. I work at a HS with high truancy rates. Some kids show up for one week each semester and still graduate. MCPS Central puts pressure on our school administrators to improve the graduation rate and the administration puts pressure on teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have bones to pick with MCPS, but absenteism is not it. It's very hard to get students into school who do not want to be there, because if you enforce punitive measures, all it does is push them further away, and you're left with dropouts who hold up stores in broad daylight and deal drugs.

However, MCPS and all other schools in the nation should put pressure on state legislatures to force them to discipline students who are violent, verbally and physically (with special plans for those with disabilities). Regular students cannot learn in disruptive environments, and teachers an staff currently have no power to punish students for assaulting them, or other students.

Likewise, MCPS has had sexual and other assaults in many of its schools, even elementary schools, and it has been demonstrated that in certain instances it did not comply with standards of reporting to police. I am thinking about the Damascus rape case specifically, but I'm sure there are others.

If your child reports an assault at school, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for the school to cover it up.

I disagree. Absenteeism plays a role in a lot of the disfunction going on in schools right now.

When teens are allowed to be absent and roaming the streets, that's how they are enabled to commit crimes and link up with bad influences and associates like drug dealers or gang members.

Furthermore, there's no hope in closing the achievement gap if you can't get the kids to show up to be exposed to or engage with the content.

Not to mention state law obliges MCPS to do everything it can to ensure those 18 and under are in school, as dictated by the letter of the law.

I 100% agree that disruptive kids should not be in the same learning environment as those who want to learn, but the answer isn't to ignore those who are intentionally skipping school. The answer to me is that we need to reinstate the alternative schools for those with behavioral problems, which still compels them to be in some sort of school environment, but doesn't allow them to disrupt things.

Law enforcement is there to provide structure and accountability when citizens get out of line. We shouldn't shy away from that.

I mean, you can lead a horse to water… But if they are skipping school and their parents know full well what they’re doing then you can’t make them learn. It’s time to realize that not everyone is going to college (or even necessarily graduating high school).

I don’t think we should be graduating kids that are truant.

You would be shocked at some of the kids who are given a MCPS diploma. I work at a HS with high truancy rates. Some kids show up for one week each semester and still graduate. MCPS Central puts pressure on our school administrators to improve the graduation rate and the administration puts pressure on teachers.

This is the problem that they refuse to address. Although to be fair to MCPS Central Office, this pressure trickles down from the state, which evaluates the school districts based on the wrong KPI, which is graduation rates.

Graduation rates are a fine measurement to based funding and school district health, but they can't be the SOLE measurement. It needs to be an input into a far more holistic evaluation. But since it's all about graduation rates, the school districts all focus their energies on manipulating their graduation rates to be as high as possible to maintain resources and funding. It's nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:(a) If a student fails to attend school without excuse on 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, a school district shall within 10 school days of the student's 10th absencerefer the student to a truancy court for truant conduct under Section 65.003(a), Family Code.

^^^
TX truancy laws

If your kid gets covid or a couple bad illnesses, you’re screwed.

Presumably absences for Covid wouldn’t be “without excuse” tho

You’d be surprised.

Are you schlepping to the doctor for a legit note?

Vs getting in trouble with truancy court? Sure.

And you are proving my point about the good parents complying while the people any new policy are trying to help simply won’t comply.

Why?

You have insurance. No financial hit.

You know better. You don’t want to get in trouble.

I wish mcps would realize the impact of shifting demographics and the reality of subcultural norms.

[Anonymous]

they used to give E2
and I saw Tiktoks when kids will miss over 210 days d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:they used to give E2
and I saw Tiktoks when kids will miss over 210 days d

They suspended E3 enforcement to be "accommodating" to kids still adjusting to in-person learning post-pandemic. That decision really backfired.....

[Anonymous]

When one of my brothers was in middle school, he developed school refusal. He wasn’t a bad kid, but we were in a really bad home life situation, he had severe LDs and anxiety, and he was dealing with the fear that being a six foot tall 11 year old black boy invoked in white teachers. So he stopped attending school. We didn’t know this term school refusal. No school official or therapist used it in reference to my brother. If it was used in the 1980s, it wasn’t applied to poor black kids. Probably not poor kids of any color. He was declared truant. My parents were told they would go to jail if he continued. This threat didn’t stop his panic attacks at the door. In the end, he made himself so physically sick that he got Home and Hospital for the rest of the school year. Then, he bounced around a few private religious schools for two years, where attendance wasn’t enforced, but LDs were not acknowledged, let alone accommodated.

[Anonymous]

my daughter is thrilled when these kids dont show up for class. makes the learning environment much better. MCPS notifies by phone and email when someone misses a class. what else can they do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my daughter is thrilled when these kids dont show up for class. makes the learning environment much better. MCPS notifies by phone and email when someone misses a class. what else can they do?

Look around the school and find them?