Who leaked the MCPS attendance documents to the Washington Post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wow. This is serious yet the MCPS apologist booster trolls are out with wanting to focus on who leaked the data. If this is your biggest concern with this article then you have problems.

They want you to think that someone at Einstein miskeyed a large number students being absent 47 times because their kid had 1-2 erroneous absences on their report card. They tried saying the only thing wrong with the article is that it didn't say that this happens at W schools -which it doesn't and WAPO had the data. Large number of kids having over 20 let alone 40 absences is NOT a typo and not a family deciding to go to Europe and take their kids out for two extra weeks around the holidays. These are not kids with medical excuses and doctor's note. These are kids that are truant and skipping school.


MCPS does nothing and pressures the teachers to inflate their grades to keep the graduation rates for low performing schools up. They don't want their graduation numbers to reveal how many problems are at the school or more UMC families will flee those schools. Schools like Einstein are much lower performing than even the public abysmal numbers show. In true MCPS fashion they have taken the approach to hide this and provide basically fraudulent graduation credentials for large numbers of students.

+ a million.

So glad someone exposed the fraud.

[Anonymous]

MCPS soon will join PGPS and DCPS to become a school system which needs creative method to keep its gratuation rate, in the name of equity and diversity. Low gratuation rate for poor students suggests that MCPS fails to educate its poor population, which is common for many of urban school districts but MCPS BOE and central office have hard time to admit that a school system alone cannot save many of the poor students from failing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure there is an issue but I also know that my kids often have unexcused absences that were entered wrong that no one bothers to correct. Sometimes we do not even know till we get the report card. Or we get an email and it is a field trip or sports.

Don't make excuses.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/can-you-skip-47-days-of-english-class-and-still-graduate-from-high-school/2019/05/25/be3318ca-1b84-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html?utm_term=.a076946cf709

This has been going on for a LONG time. Someone had the balls to bring it to the surface.

This is how it works:

In Montgomery, educators in a string of high schools have told The Post that attendance practices are lax, vague or inconsistent. Some say they feel pressured to give makeup work, extend deadlines, excuse assignments or find other ways to help repeatedly absent students pass — and that the problem is not just a matter of seniors’ losing interest as their high school days wind down.

So yes, a kid can miss instruction but teachers are FORCED to re-teach/re-assess, which pulls the responsibility away from the kid. And how much learning can be done through "tutoring?" Do you really think that Jo Jo, who's absent 3/5 days each week, is learning? even WITH "re-teaching?"

absolutely disgusting!

This is also an issue in elementary schools. I have had students who miss 30 plus days of school. The PPW sends letters and very rarely does the parent have to attend a truancy hearing. One of the biggest issues we face is with kids whom we suspect have a learning disability not being able to move past the EMT process because the attendance rate is an issue. We’ve made calls to CPS because it can be considered neglect but still nothing happens. Then we have to answer as to why the student is below grade level, and like every other logical reason it’s considered to be an excuse by admin.

This is a YOU problem not a parent problem. What I mean is that if the school is out of legal compliance if they are requiring students to have fewer than 5 unexcused absences in order to receive an IEP. That is not anywhere in the law. Your school is causing the problem by creating a process with an illegal requirement. There are many many reasons why kids don't attend school. My DC had a mental health issue and missed 50% of some classes in HS. DC still graduated and went to an Ivy League school because we insisted the 504 team accommodate her health issues, even though they initially tried to blame her non-attendance on some kind of willful disobedience, laziness or skipping.

It is not neglect when a student refuses to go to school because they are dealing with mental health issues (whether iatrogenic or mental health issues stemming from an undiagnosed or unaccommodated learning disability) or when they are being punished (instead of accommodated or provided special instruction) at school for having a learning disability (as is so often the case)>

NP. Where did the PP say anything about five days? She cited 30+. "Lack of instruction" is right there on the learning disability form as a contraindication for identifying a student with SLD. It is literally part of the IDEA definition as an exclusionary factor. If you are chronically absent, you have a lack of instruction. You cannot be provided specialized instruction without an IEP, because that's a violation of Least Restrictive Environment, and you can't get an IEP for SLD if you don't go to school. This is not MCPS or your school trying to trap you. It's what the federal law says. Your anger is misplaced.

Pay attention to the form. A mental health impairment is NOT a Specific Learning Disability. These are two different disabilities so the school would be using the wrong form for a mental health impairment. A mental health impairment can impact a child's ability to go to school and the child will need an IEP for support. IIS might be needed as a Special Education Services for when the child can't go to school.

You are like a dog with a bone without any reading comprehension skills c

Ignorance of what is actually in IDEA is the primary reason MCPS is not compliant. If you work for MCPS and are a member of IEP teams, please get training on the many different types of disabilities that qualify for an IEP if there's an educational impact. Obviously if a child's mental health impairment is affecting his/her ability to attend school, there's an educational impact that needs to be addressed.

It's like you don't even read what people are actually saying because you're too entrenched in your own situation. Sorry for what you've been through, but not every single situation is mental health related. Actually, I take that back. Many times when an elementary school student misses that much school it's because the *parent* has mental health issues and just can't be bothered to get their child to school. That is when the neglect part comes in. Please understand that NOT EVERY CHILD'S SITUATION IS THE SAME AS YOURS. I have to write in all caps because you've been unable to comprehend this even when it's been stated numerous times already. Please get out of your bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS soon will join PGPS and DCPS to become a school system which needs creative method to keep its gratuation rate, in the name of equity and diversity. Low gratuation rate for poor students suggests that MCPS fails to educate its poor population, which is common for many of urban school districts but MCPS BOE and central office have hard time to admit that a school system alone cannot save many of the poor students from failing.

From which school did you gratuate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure there is an issue but I also know that my kids often have unexcused absences that were entered wrong that no one bothers to correct. Sometimes we do not even know till we get the report card. Or we get an email and it is a field trip or sports.

Don't make excuses.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/can-you-skip-47-days-of-english-class-and-still-graduate-from-high-school/2019/05/25/be3318ca-1b84-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html?utm_term=.a076946cf709

This has been going on for a LONG time. Someone had the balls to bring it to the surface.

This is how it works:

In Montgomery, educators in a string of high schools have told The Post that attendance practices are lax, vague or inconsistent. Some say they feel pressured to give makeup work, extend deadlines, excuse assignments or find other ways to help repeatedly absent students pass — and that the problem is not just a matter of seniors’ losing interest as their high school days wind down.

So yes, a kid can miss instruction but teachers are FORCED to re-teach/re-assess, which pulls the responsibility away from the kid. And how much learning can be done through "tutoring?" Do you really think that Jo Jo, who's absent 3/5 days each week, is learning? even WITH "re-teaching?"

absolutely disgusting!

This is also an issue in elementary schools. I have had students who miss 30 plus days of school. The PPW sends letters and very rarely does the parent have to attend a truancy hearing. One of the biggest issues we face is with kids whom we suspect have a learning disability not being able to move past the EMT process because the attendance rate is an issue. We’ve made calls to CPS because it can be considered neglect but still nothing happens. Then we have to answer as to why the student is below grade level, and like every other logical reason it’s considered to be an excuse by admin.

This is a YOU problem not a parent problem. What I mean is that if the school is out of legal compliance if they are requiring students to have fewer than 5 unexcused absences in order to receive an IEP. That is not anywhere in the law. Your school is causing the problem by creating a process with an illegal requirement. There are many many reasons why kids don't attend school. My DC had a mental health issue and missed 50% of some classes in HS. DC still graduated and went to an Ivy League school because we insisted the 504 team accommodate her health issues, even though they initially tried to blame her non-attendance on some kind of willful disobedience, laziness or skipping.

It is not neglect when a student refuses to go to school because they are dealing with mental health issues (whether iatrogenic or mental health issues stemming from an undiagnosed or unaccommodated learning disability) or when they are being punished (instead of accommodated or provided special instruction) at school for having a learning disability (as is so often the case)>

NP. Where did the PP say anything about five days? She cited 30+. "Lack of instruction" is right there on the learning disability form as a contraindication for identifying a student with SLD. It is literally part of the IDEA definition as an exclusionary factor. If you are chronically absent, you have a lack of instruction. You cannot be provided specialized instruction without an IEP, because that's a violation of Least Restrictive Environment, and you can't get an IEP for SLD if you don't go to school. This is not MCPS or your school trying to trap you. It's what the federal law says. Your anger is misplaced.

Pay attention to the form. A mental health impairment is NOT a Specific Learning Disability. These are two different disabilities so the school would be using the wrong form for a mental health impairment. A mental health impairment can impact a child's ability to go to school and the child will need an IEP for support. IIS might be needed as a Special Education Services for when the child can't go to school.

You are like a dog with a bone without any reading comprehension skills c

Ignorance of what is actually in IDEA is the primary reason MCPS is not compliant. If you work for MCPS and are a member of IEP teams, please get training on the many different types of disabilities that qualify for an IEP if there's an educational impact. Obviously if a child's mental health impairment is affecting his/her ability to attend school, there's an educational impact that needs to be addressed.

It's like you don't even read what people are actually saying because you're too entrenched in your own situation. Sorry for what you've been through, but not every single situation is mental health related. Actually, I take that back. Many times when an elementary school student misses that much school it's because the *parent* has mental health issues and just can't be bothered to get their child to school. That is when the neglect part comes in. Please understand that NOT EVERY CHILD'S SITUATION IS THE SAME AS YOURS. I have to write in all caps because you've been unable to comprehend this even when it's been stated numerous times already. Please get out of your bubble.

Just one of the PPs responding. I think you are falsely assuming there is one. Clearly one of the other PPs referenced mental health as the reason a child wasn't attending school. You incorrectly referenced the Specific Learning Disability form. Perhaps you should reread the posts?

I hope you are not an MCPS employee, but I do know of cases where MCPS has used the SLD form to deny a child an IEP when the disability was not a SLD.

FYI examples of Specific Learning Disabilities are dyslexia or dysgraphia. Much different than a mental health impairment as far as how to screen and evaluate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure there is an issue but I also know that my kids often have unexcused absences that were entered wrong that no one bothers to correct. Sometimes we do not even know till we get the report card. Or we get an email and it is a field trip or sports.

Don't make excuses.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/can-you-skip-47-days-of-english-class-and-still-graduate-from-high-school/2019/05/25/be3318ca-1b84-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html?utm_term=.a076946cf709

This has been going on for a LONG time. Someone had the balls to bring it to the surface.

This is how it works:

In Montgomery, educators in a string of high schools have told The Post that attendance practices are lax, vague or inconsistent. Some say they feel pressured to give makeup work, extend deadlines, excuse assignments or find other ways to help repeatedly absent students pass — and that the problem is not just a matter of seniors’ losing interest as their high school days wind down.

So yes, a kid can miss instruction but teachers are FORCED to re-teach/re-assess, which pulls the responsibility away from the kid. And how much learning can be done through "tutoring?" Do you really think that Jo Jo, who's absent 3/5 days each week, is learning? even WITH "re-teaching?"

absolutely disgusting!

This is also an issue in elementary schools. I have had students who miss 30 plus days of school. The PPW sends letters and very rarely does the parent have to attend a truancy hearing. One of the biggest issues we face is with kids whom we suspect have a learning disability not being able to move past the EMT process because the attendance rate is an issue. We’ve made calls to CPS because it can be considered neglect but still nothing happens. Then we have to answer as to why the student is below grade level, and like every other logical reason it’s considered to be an excuse by admin.

This is a YOU problem not a parent problem. What I mean is that if the school is out of legal compliance if they are requiring students to have fewer than 5 unexcused absences in order to receive an IEP. That is not anywhere in the law. Your school is causing the problem by creating a process with an illegal requirement. There are many many reasons why kids don't attend school. My DC had a mental health issue and missed 50% of some classes in HS. DC still graduated and went to an Ivy League school because we insisted the 504 team accommodate her health issues, even though they initially tried to blame her non-attendance on some kind of willful disobedience, laziness or skipping.

It is not neglect when a student refuses to go to school because they are dealing with mental health issues (whether iatrogenic or mental health issues stemming from an undiagnosed or unaccommodated learning disability) or when they are being punished (instead of accommodated or provided special instruction) at school for having a learning disability (as is so often the case)>

NP. Where did the PP say anything about five days? She cited 30+. "Lack of instruction" is right there on the learning disability form as a contraindication for identifying a student with SLD. It is literally part of the IDEA definition as an exclusionary factor. If you are chronically absent, you have a lack of instruction. You cannot be provided specialized instruction without an IEP, because that's a violation of Least Restrictive Environment, and you can't get an IEP for SLD if you don't go to school. This is not MCPS or your school trying to trap you. It's what the federal law says. Your anger is misplaced.

Pay attention to the form. A mental health impairment is NOT a Specific Learning Disability. These are two different disabilities so the school would be using the wrong form for a mental health impairment. A mental health impairment can impact a child's ability to go to school and the child will need an IEP for support. IIS might be needed as a Special Education Services for when the child can't go to school.

You are like a dog with a bone without any reading comprehension skills c

Ignorance of what is actually in IDEA is the primary reason MCPS is not compliant. If you work for MCPS and are a member of IEP teams, please get training on the many different types of disabilities that qualify for an IEP if there's an educational impact. Obviously if a child's mental health impairment is affecting his/her ability to attend school, there's an educational impact that needs to be addressed.

It's like you don't even read what people are actually saying because you're too entrenched in your own situation. Sorry for what you've been through, but not every single situation is mental health related. Actually, I take that back. Many times when an elementary school student misses that much school it's because the *parent* has mental health issues and just can't be bothered to get their child to school. That is when the neglect part comes in. Please understand that NOT EVERY CHILD'S SITUATION IS THE SAME AS YOURS. I have to write in all caps because you've been unable to comprehend this even when it's been stated numerous times already. Please get out of your bubble.

Just one of the PPs responding. I think you are falsely assuming there is one. Clearly one of the other PPs referenced mental health as the reason a child wasn't attending school. You incorrectly referenced the Specific Learning Disability form. Perhaps you should reread the posts?

I hope you are not an MCPS employee, but I do know of cases where MCPS has used the SLD form to deny a child an IEP when the disability was not a SLD.

FYI examples of Specific Learning Disabilities are dyslexia or dysgraphia. Much different than a mental health impairment as far as how to screen and evaluate.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t reference the Specific Learning Disability form at all in my posts. Are you having a hard time following the thread? I can go back and write the times of my posts later when I am at a computer. Maybe that will help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS soon will join PGPS and DCPS to become a school system which needs creative method to keep its gratuation rate, in the name of equity and diversity. Low gratuation rate for poor students suggests that MCPS fails to educate its poor population, which is common for many of urban school districts but MCPS BOE and central office have hard time to admit that a school system alone cannot save many of the poor students from failing.

From which school did you gratuate?

Trump University

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Knowing the root cause is not the same as addressing it. What have you actually done, either personally or as part of a group to help students overcome the reasons they miss classes?

So you're blaming teachers now?

This is a point I've made again and again, and you're part of the problem.

I don't owe you an explanation of steps I've taken, especially with your accusatory tone.

You're part of the problem, and you'll continue to help the system erode each and every day.

thanks

This work is part of our job. Each and every day. You don’t do this important part of your job and you resent being called out for it.

You are an ahole pp! I'm not a teacher but you are out of line. The teacher's responsibility is teaching, not social worker or counselor. Teachers are mandated reporters of abuse. It ends there. It is the school administrators responsibility to police attendance requirements and hire staff to monitor the epidemic and offer solutions.

Thanks to the ^ PP for defending me for not doing my job.

So here you go, Einstein. (I'm replying to the PP in bold.) I'll give you ONE example of what I did for ONE kid for an entire semester - not in any particular order b/c you wouldn't understand anyway. (One year half of my 32 students in ONE class had IEPs and behavioral issues. They traveled in a pack, and there were pages of pages of entries on the comm logs on multiple students in that group.)

1. talked to student - switched up my strategies, my groupings, my planning with the sped co-teacher
2. called home - could never reach the mother
3. emailed colleagues regarding successful methods in dealing with student - nothing of substance was shared, as she was an issue in all of her classes
4. tested reading level (reading 3 grade levels below)
5. documented all behaviors in class on the comm log - many, many entries (not just from me)
6. contacted counselor about a meeting with parent
7. suggested testing for an IEP (ED specifically, as she was not a coded student in this co-taught class) - was slapped down for overstepping bounds
8. contacted school psychologist to observe - In a nutshell, psych said the kid needed to be disciplined and that her hands were tied. OK, thanks for nothing
9. sent home work after she had been suspended for fighting before an assembly where a popular figure was giving a motivational speech during Hispanic Heritage Month - She beat up a boy. Hey - she was tough.
10. completed a BIP and FBA that went nowhere


long story short - She was placed in an honors English class the next semester with a wonderful teacher who should have been a role model. She failed the class and was gone the next year.

lather, rinse, repeat - multiple times throughout the year
So when does teaching get done?

You claim this is OUR job. So I'm assuming (ASSuming?) you're an educator. Tell me what you've done that matches anything close to what I've done. I resent being unfairly called out by an a**hole like you. You are an a**hole.

Nothing on this list is exceptional. These are all basic things that even first-year teachers would be expected to do. Thousand of teachers in MCOS do all of these things for multiple students. If you think you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty with that list, you are deluded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Knowing the root cause is not the same as addressing it. What have you actually done, either personally or as part of a group to help students overcome the reasons they miss classes?

So you're blaming teachers now?

This is a point I've made again and again, and you're part of the problem.

I don't owe you an explanation of steps I've taken, especially with your accusatory tone.

You're part of the problem, and you'll continue to help the system erode each and every day.

thanks

This work is part of our job. Each and every day. You don’t do this important part of your job and you resent being called out for it.

You are an ahole pp! I'm not a teacher but you are out of line. The teacher's responsibility is teaching, not social worker or counselor. Teachers are mandated reporters of abuse. It ends there. It is the school administrators responsibility to police attendance requirements and hire staff to monitor the epidemic and offer solutions.

Thanks to the ^ PP for defending me for not doing my job.

So here you go, Einstein. (I'm replying to the PP in bold.) I'll give you ONE example of what I did for ONE kid for an entire semester - not in any particular order b/c you wouldn't understand anyway. (One year half of my 32 students in ONE class had IEPs and behavioral issues. They traveled in a pack, and there were pages of pages of entries on the comm logs on multiple students in that group.)

1. talked to student - switched up my strategies, my groupings, my planning with the sped co-teacher
2. called home - could never reach the mother
3. emailed colleagues regarding successful methods in dealing with student - nothing of substance was shared, as she was an issue in all of her classes
4. tested reading level (reading 3 grade levels below)
5. documented all behaviors in class on the comm log - many, many entries (not just from me)
6. contacted counselor about a meeting with parent
7. suggested testing for an IEP (ED specifically, as she was not a coded student in this co-taught class) - was slapped down for overstepping bounds
8. contacted school psychologist to observe - In a nutshell, psych said the kid needed to be disciplined and that her hands were tied. OK, thanks for nothing
9. sent home work after she had been suspended for fighting before an assembly where a popular figure was giving a motivational speech during Hispanic Heritage Month - She beat up a boy. Hey - she was tough.
10. completed a BIP and FBA that went nowhere


long story short - She was placed in an honors English class the next semester with a wonderful teacher who should have been a role model. She failed the class and was gone the next year.

lather, rinse, repeat - multiple times throughout the year
So when does teaching get done?

You claim this is OUR job. So I'm assuming (ASSuming?) you're an educator. Tell me what you've done that matches anything close to what I've done. I resent being unfairly called out by an a**hole like you. You are an a**hole.

Nothing on this list is exceptional. These are all basic things that even first-year teachers would be expected to do. Thousand of teachers in MCOS do all of these things for multiple students. If you think you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty with that list, you are deluded.

You must be an excellent teacher and work well with tough student. I wish there were more teachers like you so MCPS can close the achievement gap and make every student successful. Would you consider to move to one of the lower ranking school to teach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Knowing the root cause is not the same as addressing it. What have you actually done, either personally or as part of a group to help students overcome the reasons they miss classes?

So you're blaming teachers now?

This is a point I've made again and again, and you're part of the problem.

I don't owe you an explanation of steps I've taken, especially with your accusatory tone.

You're part of the problem, and you'll continue to help the system erode each and every day.

thanks

This work is part of our job. Each and every day. You don’t do this important part of your job and you resent being called out for it.

You are an ahole pp! I'm not a teacher but you are out of line. The teacher's responsibility is teaching, not social worker or counselor. Teachers are mandated reporters of abuse. It ends there. It is the school administrators responsibility to police attendance requirements and hire staff to monitor the epidemic and offer solutions.

Thanks to the ^ PP for defending me for not doing my job.

So here you go, Einstein. (I'm replying to the PP in bold.) I'll give you ONE example of what I did for ONE kid for an entire semester - not in any particular order b/c you wouldn't understand anyway. (One year half of my 32 students in ONE class had IEPs and behavioral issues. They traveled in a pack, and there were pages of pages of entries on the comm logs on multiple students in that group.)

1. talked to student - switched up my strategies, my groupings, my planning with the sped co-teacher
2. called home - could never reach the mother
3. emailed colleagues regarding successful methods in dealing with student - nothing of substance was shared, as she was an issue in all of her classes
4. tested reading level (reading 3 grade levels below)
5. documented all behaviors in class on the comm log - many, many entries (not just from me)
6. contacted counselor about a meeting with parent
7. suggested testing for an IEP (ED specifically, as she was not a coded student in this co-taught class) - was slapped down for overstepping bounds
8. contacted school psychologist to observe - In a nutshell, psych said the kid needed to be disciplined and that her hands were tied. OK, thanks for nothing
9. sent home work after she had been suspended for fighting before an assembly where a popular figure was giving a motivational speech during Hispanic Heritage Month - She beat up a boy. Hey - she was tough.
10. completed a BIP and FBA that went nowhere


long story short - She was placed in an honors English class the next semester with a wonderful teacher who should have been a role model. She failed the class and was gone the next year.

lather, rinse, repeat - multiple times throughout the year
So when does teaching get done?

You claim this is OUR job. So I'm assuming (ASSuming?) you're an educator. Tell me what you've done that matches anything close to what I've done. I resent being unfairly called out by an a**hole like you. You are an a**hole.

Nothing on this list is exceptional. These are all basic things that even first-year teachers would be expected to do. Thousand of teachers in MCOS do all of these things for multiple students. If you think you’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty with that list, you are deluded.

You must be an excellent teacher and work well with tough student. I wish there were more teachers like you so MCPS can close the achievement gap and make every student successful. Would you consider to move to one of the lower ranking school to teach?

I teach in a high FARMs DCC middle. I’ve also taught at other similar schools and mentored new teachers. I don’t know why PP feels like her list consisted of optional or creative steps.

[Anonymous]

This thread is interesting although I haven't read all of it yet. I have noticed we get a telephone call saying our DC was reported missing or absent every time there is a half day or a test day and DC was pulle out of class. I have noted every excused absence have a much longer list of dates of unexcused absences that seem like a glitch in the system. Due to other circumstances, I haven't brought it to the attention of the school to avoid confrontation.

I will read this thread and am sure the truth lies somewhere in between in some cases.

[Anonymous]

Been there, done that. You try reaching parents who don't want to be reached to discuss a problem that they think is your problem (he's your problem at school, mine at home), not a problem (you just need to be nicer to her), or don't care. Or are to busy working and or taking care of younger siblings. Or are dealing with moving for the 5th time this school year because they got kicked out of aunt so-and-sos place. Or are dealing with an abusive or absent spouse (military, addict, jail). Or any of the million other reasons they are to busy to handle just one more thing.

These are the parents MCPS teachers attempt to reach every single day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am sure there is an issue but I also know that my kids often have unexcused absences that were entered wrong that no one bothers to correct. Sometimes we do not even know till we get the report card. Or we get an email and it is a field trip or sports.

Don't make excuses.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/can-you-skip-47-days-of-english-class-and-still-graduate-from-high-school/2019/05/25/be3318ca-1b84-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html?utm_term=.a076946cf709

This has been going on for a LONG time. Someone had the balls to bring it to the surface.

This is how it works:

In Montgomery, educators in a string of high schools have told The Post that attendance practices are lax, vague or inconsistent. Some say they feel pressured to give makeup work, extend deadlines, excuse assignments or find other ways to help repeatedly absent students pass — and that the problem is not just a matter of seniors’ losing interest as their high school days wind down.

So yes, a kid can miss instruction but teachers are FORCED to re-teach/re-assess, which pulls the responsibility away from the kid. And how much learning can be done through "tutoring?" Do you really think that Jo Jo, who's absent 3/5 days each week, is learning? even WITH "re-teaching?"

absolutely disgusting!

This is also an issue in elementary schools. I have had students who miss 30 plus days of school. The PPW sends letters and very rarely does the parent have to attend a truancy hearing. One of the biggest issues we face is with kids whom we suspect have a learning disability not being able to move past the EMT process because the attendance rate is an issue. We’ve made calls to CPS because it can be considered neglect but still nothing happens. Then we have to answer as to why the student is below grade level, and like every other logical reason it’s considered to be an excuse by admin.

This is a YOU problem not a parent problem. What I mean is that if the school is out of legal compliance if they are requiring students to have fewer than 5 unexcused absences in order to receive an IEP. That is not anywhere in the law. Your school is causing the problem by creating a process with an illegal requirement. There are many many reasons why kids don't attend school. My DC had a mental health issue and missed 50% of some classes in HS. DC still graduated and went to an Ivy League school because we insisted the 504 team accommodate her health issues, even though they initially tried to blame her non-attendance on some kind of willful disobedience, laziness or skipping.

It is not neglect when a student refuses to go to school because they are dealing with mental health issues (whether iatrogenic or mental health issues stemming from an undiagnosed or unaccommodated learning disability) or when they are being punished (instead of accommodated or provided special instruction) at school for having a learning disability (as is so often the case)>

NP. Where did the PP say anything about five days? She cited 30+. "Lack of instruction" is right there on the learning disability form as a contraindication for identifying a student with SLD. It is literally part of the IDEA definition as an exclusionary factor. If you are chronically absent, you have a lack of instruction. You cannot be provided specialized instruction without an IEP, because that's a violation of Least Restrictive Environment, and you can't get an IEP for SLD if you don't go to school. This is not MCPS or your school trying to trap you. It's what the federal law says. Your anger is misplaced.

Pay attention to the form. A mental health impairment is NOT a Specific Learning Disability. These are two different disabilities so the school would be using the wrong form for a mental health impairment. A mental health impairment can impact a child's ability to go to school and the child will need an IEP for support. IIS might be needed as a Special Education Services for when the child can't go to school.

You are like a dog with a bone without any reading comprehension skills c

Ignorance of what is actually in IDEA is the primary reason MCPS is not compliant. If you work for MCPS and are a member of IEP teams, please get training on the many different types of disabilities that qualify for an IEP if there's an educational impact. Obviously if a child's mental health impairment is affecting his/her ability to attend school, there's an educational impact that needs to be addressed.

Wow. Both sides of this debate are correct. If a student has a mental health disability that impacts them attending school then attendance is not an exclusionary factor. This is also true for an intellectual disability, other health impairment, TBI, hearing loss, vision, etc. Attendance is, however, an exclusionary factor when a team is determining eligibility for a specific learning disability. You must rule out lack of instruction as the reason the student is not making progress. If a student is continuously absent for 25 or 30 days a year, the student has not been provided with appropriate instruction. In the elementary school this happens way too often. It is never the kids fault and at my school we try everything to help the family get the child to school but it does happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wow. This is serious yet the MCPS apologist booster trolls are out with wanting to focus on who leaked the data. If this is your biggest concern with this article then you have problems.

They want you to think that someone at Einstein miskeyed a large number students being absent 47 times because their kid had 1-2 erroneous absences on their report card. They tried saying the only thing wrong with the article is that it didn't say that this happens at W schools -which it doesn't and WAPO had the data. Large number of kids having over 20 let alone 40 absences is NOT a typo and not a family deciding to go to Europe and take their kids out for two extra weeks around the holidays. These are not kids with medical excuses and doctor's note. These are kids that are truant and skipping school.


MCPS does nothing and pressures the teachers to inflate their grades to keep the graduation rates for low performing schools up. They don't want their graduation numbers to reveal how many problems are at the school or more UMC families will flee those schools. Schools like Einstein are much lower performing than even the public abysmal numbers show. In true MCPS fashion they have taken the approach to hide this and provide basically fraudulent graduation credentials for large numbers of students.

+ a million.

So glad someone exposed the fraud.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS soon will join PGPS and DCPS to become a school system which needs creative method to keep its gratuation rate, in the name of equity and diversity. Low gratuation rate for poor students suggests that MCPS fails to educate its poor population, which is common for many of urban school districts but MCPS BOE and central office have hard time to admit that a school system alone cannot save many of the poor students from failing.

From which school did you gratuate?

One that taught me how to spell the word "graduate" correctly.