Who leaked the MCPS attendance documents to the Washington Post?

[Anonymous]

??

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

47 times? The article isn't about mistakes in recording. It is about massive unexcused absences that show that students don't actually have to attend MCPS to graduate. The article devalues MCPS diplomas for all students.

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

This is what I have observed as both a teacher and a parent:

When middle class and affluent students are absent often, the parents know how to work the system. We often notify the school in advance and provide excuses or documentation that satisfy the attendance secretary. This allows our children to be marked excused absent and make up missed work. Even when the absence is clearly not considered excused under MCPS’ own rules, a way is found to kosher it. Our children are excused for family vacations, grandparents’ anniversaries, and attending siblings’ graduations. Mine was excused this year to interview for a summer experience. If our children are struggling with social emotional issues that lead them to be late to school or not go at all on a particular day, we use terms like “school refusal” that present nonattendance as a health issue rather than a behavioral problem. Recently, when DH has a serious health setback, my child’s counselor suggested taking a day off for DD to process.

In my experience, low income families often do not know how to use (or outright manipulate) the system this way. Students return from short illnesses (1-4 days) without the parent note that excuses the days missed. Students do not bring a doctor’s note for longer illnesses (5+ days), even though they may sport a hospital wristband. For students with chronic conditions like asthma, a lot of days may be racked up that should be excused, but just lack the paperwork. Families of low income students, particularly immigrants of color, may not realize that schools do bend rules to excuse absences for trips abroad, graduations, etc. They just know that their child still needs to accompany the family and they hope the teacher will excuse the missed work. They certainly don’t seem to know the magical phrase “school refusal” when their child won’t leave home in the morning. So they get sent scary letters about attendance while the parents of a middle class student with the same or more days absent is not.

I don’t know how to fix this. I do my part throwing starfish back into the ocean by contacting families to beg for notes or bringing up “school refusal” when we have our team meetings and someone uses skipping to characterize certain students’ absences and not those of others. I urge my colleagues to be aware of how our school and their own practices might be inequitable when it comes to dealing with absences that are technically inexcusable. If Larla can be excused for a five day trip to Israel for a cousin’s wedding under the excuse of religious observance, why can’t we do the same for Larla to miss one day for her godmother’s funeral?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

I want to clarify that the absences are mostly not due to illnesses or travel. The kids tell us why they were absent (mom was tired, it was raining etc) but then they start to clam up once letters start going home.

[Anonymous]

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!

Teachers are supposed to reteach and reassess anyway. If a child is missing 3 days a week consistently, do you think the biggest concern they are facing is how to make up missed instruction?

Address whatever the root cause is!

When I taught high school, I had sisters miss AM classes because it was only safe to sleep after a predatory adult male in the home had left for work. A student was responsible for watching her 5 younger siblings while the parents worked nights. Sometimes the parents were too exhausted to takeover in the morning so she had to get the little ones to school at 9 am, making her miss first block.

[Anonymous]

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.

47 times? The article isn't about mistakes in recording. It is about massive unexcused absences that show that students don't actually have to attend MCPS to graduate. The article devalues MCPS diplomas for all students.

47 no not a mistake in recording. 10 yes..my kids have sometimes gotten a report card with 10 unexcused absences at the end of the year that we can not figure out..but the year is over and it does not seem to matter so I do nothing. Even when I get the recording when my kid was at a sport event, I ignore it. I am sure I am not the only parent who knows it does not matter.

[Anonymous]

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.

I want to clarify that the absences are mostly not due to illnesses or travel. The kids tell us why they were absent (mom was tired, it was raining etc) but then they start to clam up once letters start going home.

Provide rain gear and rain boots from the thrift store. My school has an inclement weather clothing drive each October. We take clothes in all sizes. Students definitely snag boots for younger siblings.

[Anonymous]

8:06 is right on target. I work at a W school and the number of absences, excused, is unbelievable. Parents game the system, principals shrug their shoulders (can't have graduation rates drop), teachers are frustrated!

Parents don't care - HS is just a stepping stone to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:8:06 is right on target. I work at a W school and the number of absences, excused, is unbelievable. Parents game the system, principals shrug their shoulders (can't have graduation rates drop), teachers are frustrated!

Parents don't care - HS is just a stepping stone to college.

WJ?

[Anonymous]

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!

Teachers are supposed to reteach and reassess anyway. If a child is missing 3 days a week consistently, do you think the biggest concern they are facing is how to make up missed instruction?

Address whatever the root cause is!

When I taught high school, I had sisters miss AM classes because it was only safe to sleep after a predatory adult male in the home had left for work. A student was responsible for watching her 5 younger siblings while the parents worked nights. Sometimes the parents were too exhausted to takeover in the morning so she had to get the little ones to school at 9 am, making her miss first block.

OK - look

I have over 25 years in this system teaching in high FARMs/high ESOL schools. I'm sure you can name them. MS-13? lol - just another part of my crew - And it high school, they can get ugly very quickly.

So we KNOW the root causes. Why do you think those teachers were anonymous when they shared their experiences?

The procedures around re-teaching/re-assessing and total BS with attendance and with grades were mandated b/c the county REFUSED to fail minority students b/c numbers were high at the challenging schools. At the wealthy schools, the county didn't want to fight lawsuits for unethical absences. So the kids were placed in IIS (formerly HHT) and they returned with doctors' notes from some highly unethical practitioners.

I'm done with excuses. I've discussed ROOT CAUSES until I was blue in the face. I'm NOT the problem, and I refuse to be the scapegoat. This is why teachers shut down. This is why instruction is uninspiring. How much longer can this go on?

I'm glad someone leaked this information! I hope more and more people stand up for what's right.

Kids aren't learning. It's a joke. As are BS. If Johnny can earn an A for being absent 40% of the time b/c a teacher was FORCED to re-teach/re-assess, the A is meaningless. why? b/c it's not ONLY about the content

It's about responsibility

and academic ENDURANCE and ethics. Do you think we're graduating kids who possess these qualities? I don't.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES!

[Anonymous]

We’re not supposed to give academic consequences for behavioral issues, 08:39. And I especially refuse to do so when such consequences will be applied only to certain groups of students and not others. If Josephine is given the opportunity to earn an A purely on content despite showing zero responsibility, so should Jose.

[Anonymous]

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!

Teachers are supposed to reteach and reassess anyway. If a child is missing 3 days a week consistently, do you think the biggest concern they are facing is how to make up missed instruction?

Address whatever the root cause is!

When I taught high school, I had sisters miss AM classes because it was only safe to sleep after a predatory adult male in the home had left for work. A student was responsible for watching her 5 younger siblings while the parents worked nights. Sometimes the parents were too exhausted to takeover in the morning so she had to get the little ones to school at 9 am, making her miss first block.

OK - look

I have over 25 years in this system teaching in high FARMs/high ESOL schools. I'm sure you can name them. MS-13? lol - just another part of my crew - And it high school, they can get ugly very quickly.

So we KNOW the root causes. Why do you think those teachers were anonymous when they shared their experiences?

The procedures around re-teaching/re-assessing and total BS with attendance and with grades were mandated b/c the county REFUSED to fail minority students b/c numbers were high at the challenging schools. At the wealthy schools, the county didn't want to fight lawsuits for unethical absences. So the kids were placed in IIS (formerly HHT) and they returned with doctors' notes from some highly unethical practitioners.

I'm done with excuses. I've discussed ROOT CAUSES until I was blue in the face. I'm NOT the problem, and I refuse to be the scapegoat. This is why teachers shut down. This is why instruction is uninspiring. How much longer can this go on?

I'm glad someone leaked this information! I hope more and more people stand up for what's right.

Kids aren't learning. It's a joke. As are BS. If Johnny can earn an A for being absent 40% of the time b/c a teacher was FORCED to re-teach/re-assess, the A is meaningless. why? b/c it's not ONLY about the content

It's about responsibility

and academic ENDURANCE and ethics. Do you think we're graduating kids who possess these qualities? I don't.

STOP MAKING EXCUSES!

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?