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

[Anonymous]

Bad Dads I know as a kid I get a taste of my Dads belt if I started not going to school

[Anonymous]

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/olo/resources/files/2010-7_truancy.pdf

Truancy and chronic absenteeism report for mcps from 2010. Interestingly, there wasn’t much of a problem. Data highlights it was primarily an issue for black and latino boys.

National data says 1 in 4 black and Latino boys are chronically absent.

[Anonymous]

https://moco360.media/2019/09/05/more-than-half-of-mcps-dropouts-were-latino-data-shows/

More than half the dropouts are Latino.

[Anonymous]

Studies show “factors like unsafe school conditions, bullying, housing instability, substance abuse and delinquency affect a student's attendance.”

I guess this is how far mcps has devolved. Sad.

Perhaps address the underlying root causes?

[Anonymous]

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/detail.aspx?id=258

From the mcps website: a report on a special 2007|2008 initiative to address the special issues faced by Latino newcomers.

Seems like a lot of thought and funding was dedicated to issues that have only grown more complex given the influx in latino newcomers and 1st Gen Latinos.

In short: mcps already had issues with low-income black students/families back in the day, and now mcps has bigger issues as shifting demographics become Latino-heavy.

Icymi: there are very real subcultural norms when it comes to priorities. Education isn’t their priority…socioeconomics via manual labor is. They need cash to send “home” (meaning their country). Many boys (who are the source of the issue) arrive without their parents (google the DHS data on unaccompanied children arrivals).

But sure, mcps can take a hardline approach. The affluent white parents will dutifully comply. The affluent Indian parents will reluctantly comply or file a lawsuit (infringing upon their religious freedom to travel to their home country). But the chronically absent black and Latino boys and their families won’t shift behavior.

Has anyone at mcps pulled their own report from 2007?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/detail.aspx?id=258

From the mcps website: a report on a special 2007|2008 initiative to address the special issues faced by Latino newcomers.

Seems like a lot of thought and funding was dedicated to issues that have only grown more complex given the influx in latino newcomers and 1st Gen Latinos.

In short: mcps already had issues with low-income black students/families back in the day, and now mcps has bigger issues as shifting demographics become Latino-heavy.

Icymi: there are very real subcultural norms when it comes to priorities. Education isn’t their priority…socioeconomics via manual labor is. They need cash to send “home” (meaning their country). Many boys (who are the source of the issue) arrive without their parents (google the DHS data on unaccompanied children arrivals).

But sure, mcps can take a hardline approach. The affluent white parents will dutifully comply. The affluent Indian parents will reluctantly comply or file a lawsuit (infringing upon their religious freedom to travel to their home country). But the chronically absent black and Latino boys and their families won’t shift behavior.

Has anyone at mcps pulled their own report from 2007?

Why the dog at affluent Indian families? Why would they reluctantly comply? They are all about education and Mike be on the other side of the spectrum where they don’t have any absent days at all.

Again, I ask, what’s the plan to get students in seats? You can’t force them, there’s a push back against disciplining them, either by fines, or getting police or CPS involved, then what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/detail.aspx?id=258

From the mcps website: a report on a special 2007|2008 initiative to address the special issues faced by Latino newcomers.

Seems like a lot of thought and funding was dedicated to issues that have only grown more complex given the influx in latino newcomers and 1st Gen Latinos.

In short: mcps already had issues with low-income black students/families back in the day, and now mcps has bigger issues as shifting demographics become Latino-heavy.

Icymi: there are very real subcultural norms when it comes to priorities. Education isn’t their priority…socioeconomics via manual labor is. They need cash to send “home” (meaning their country). Many boys (who are the source of the issue) arrive without their parents (google the DHS data on unaccompanied children arrivals).

But sure, mcps can take a hardline approach. The affluent white parents will dutifully comply. The affluent Indian parents will reluctantly comply or file a lawsuit (infringing upon their religious freedom to travel to their home country). But the chronically absent black and Latino boys and their families won’t shift behavior.

Has anyone at mcps pulled their own report from 2007?

Why the dog at affluent Indian families? Why would they reluctantly comply? They are all about education and Mike be on the other side of the spectrum where they don’t have any absent days at all.

Again, I ask, what’s the plan to get students in seats? You can’t force them, there’s a push back against disciplining them, either by fines, or getting police or CPS involved, then what?

I think the best solution is to just chant “diversity is our strength” and ignore it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/detail.aspx?id=258

From the mcps website: a report on a special 2007|2008 initiative to address the special issues faced by Latino newcomers.

Seems like a lot of thought and funding was dedicated to issues that have only grown more complex given the influx in latino newcomers and 1st Gen Latinos.

In short: mcps already had issues with low-income black students/families back in the day, and now mcps has bigger issues as shifting demographics become Latino-heavy.

Icymi: there are very real subcultural norms when it comes to priorities. Education isn’t their priority…socioeconomics via manual labor is. They need cash to send “home” (meaning their country). Many boys (who are the source of the issue) arrive without their parents (google the DHS data on unaccompanied children arrivals).

But sure, mcps can take a hardline approach. The affluent white parents will dutifully comply. The affluent Indian parents will reluctantly comply or file a lawsuit (infringing upon their religious freedom to travel to their home country). But the chronically absent black and Latino boys and their families won’t shift behavior.

Has anyone at mcps pulled their own report from 2007?

Why the dog at affluent Indian families? Why would they reluctantly comply? They are all about education and Mike be on the other side of the spectrum where they don’t have any absent days at all.

Again, I ask, what’s the plan to get students in seats? You can’t force them, there’s a push back against disciplining them, either by fines, or getting police or CPS involved, then what?

Just an observation of the families who pull their kids out of school for a monthlong trip home for “religious reasons.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/olo/resources/files/2010-7_truancy.pdf

Truancy and chronic absenteeism report for mcps from 2010. Interestingly, there wasn’t much of a problem. Data highlights it was primarily an issue for black and latino boys.

National data says 1 in 4 black and Latino boys are chronically absent.

Thank you for digging this up! It's so sad how often MCPS becomes aware of a problem, even reports and looks into the problem, and then allows it to fester and become worse and then act like it's a new situation that they now need to spend months and resources studying again to understand.

Kennedy had an 8.7% chronically absent rate in 2008 and now it's over 50% in 2023! How did they let it get this bad????

[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.

Cool. Now do when you have no insurance and no money to pay out of pocket, no transportation, etc, etc, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This issue is a huge part of the gaps in education weaning student groups. A student usually doesn’t learn well unless they are in school. The worst are the parents that go on vacation for a month in a home country in mid fall and late winter when plane tickets are cheap.

Especially when they claimed asylum based on fear for their life...

White Christian Nationalists Unite!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bad Dads I know as a kid I get a taste of my Dads belt if I started not going to school

IKR! Spare the belt, spoil the child!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/olo/resources/files/2010-7_truancy.pdf

Truancy and chronic absenteeism report for mcps from 2010. Interestingly, there wasn’t much of a problem. Data highlights it was primarily an issue for black and latino boys.

National data says 1 in 4 black and Latino boys are chronically absent.

Thank you for digging this up! It's so sad how often MCPS becomes aware of a problem, even reports and looks into the problem, and then allows it to fester and become worse and then act like it's a new situation that they now need to spend months and resources studying again to understand.

Kennedy had an 8.7% chronically absent rate in 2008 and now it's over 50% in 2023! How did they let it get this bad????

?

Um…the massive influx in latino newcomers—mostly boys? The school is more than 70% latino today, but that wasn’t the case 10 years ago. The surrounding area has more than its fair share of garden apartments and SFHs that are rented or owned by latinos.

It’s not a school problem.

It’s a subcultural reality: newcomers and 1st Gen latinos from certain countries aren’t here for the education.

[Anonymous]

Many of the families I work with keep their older kids home to help babysit the younger ones when they can't find a sitter or help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/olo/resources/files/2010-7_truancy.pdf

Truancy and chronic absenteeism report for mcps from 2010. Interestingly, there wasn’t much of a problem. Data highlights it was primarily an issue for black and latino boys.

National data says 1 in 4 black and Latino boys are chronically absent.

Thank you for digging this up! It's so sad how often MCPS becomes aware of a problem, even reports and looks into the problem, and then allows it to fester and become worse and then act like it's a new situation that they now need to spend months and resources studying again to understand.

Kennedy had an 8.7% chronically absent rate in 2008 and now it's over 50% in 2023! How did they let it get this bad????

?

Um…the massive influx in latino newcomers—mostly boys? The school is more than 70% latino today, but that wasn’t the case 10 years ago. The surrounding area has more than its fair share of garden apartments and SFHs that are rented or owned by latinos.

It’s not a school problem.

It’s a subcultural reality: newcomers and 1st Gen latinos from certain countries aren’t here for the education.

They identified Latin families and boys specifically as being more likely to be chronically absent and for the reasons they researched and confirmed. None of that changed. The only thing that happened was the pandemic, which seemed to accelerate the severity of the issue.

So MCPS knows the root causes and that certain groups within the student population were more likely be chronically absent that others. They've known this information since 2005.

The report lays out actions and responsibilities across three groups:

- Schools
- Parents and Families
- Government Agencies (DHHS, MCPD, etc.)

Your point about subcultural behaviors is one component, and you're not wrong. But it doesn't absolve MCPS of its responsibility for tackling its portion of the problem. Unless you want to argue MCPS has done an above average, thorough job of doing everything it can and should be doing, which includes effective and consistent enforcement of its attendance policy. And if you want to make that claim, I'd like to see evidence of it, cause it contradicts my lived experience as a current parent of MCPS high school students.