Attendance policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you surely can see why the school would need medical documentation to support an absence of 5 days or more, can't you? This surely can't be that hard for you to comprehend.

No I really don't. I don't appreciate being treated like a liar and I don't think schools must function on the assumption that that is what parents are. I also don't appreciate the assumption that parents are too stupid or ill-motivated to make extremely basic medical decisions for their kid without a doctor intervening. The state of Maryland allows homeschooling next to no oversight. Yet suddenly when you enroll your kid in public schools, you are no longer trustworthy to make your own parenting decisions. I also don't buy into the naive magic-doctor theory that many on this thread seem to ascribe to. I'm all for vaccines/antibiotics/antivirals when necessary but there is just nothing a doctor can do about a lingering case of the flu/COVID/other assorted viruses. Plenty of states/schools operate fine without this requirement.

Its just comical next to their alleged concern about spreading COVID, but w/e. Clearly I am in the minority here. I at least hope the schools drop the pretense of caring about COVID spread--at least that would be consistent.

So much hyperbole here. It really makes me question your story and your true motives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what’s the consequences? They actually will arrest you if the kids is absent for more than 5 days?

If absent for 10 consecutive days, your kid can be unenrolled from MCPS. Which means you'll have to go through all of the paperwork of reenrolling them again if that happens.

It also means if you don't reenroll them or enroll them either in homeschool or private school, you could get in trouble with the state and then yes, get arrested for child neglect.

1. This is for unexcused absences.
2. The school PPW will work with families who are approaching this threshold to see what can be retroactively excused and to put in place a plan to avoid additional unexcused absences. In one case that involved connecting the mom with a diaper bank because the MS student was kept home whenever the baby sibling couldn’t go to daycare due to the family running out of diapers.
3. Even if you are reported for child neglect due to truancy, CPS will investigate. If they find this constitutes neglect, a social worker is going to work with your family.
4. Arrests of parents for truancy are exceedingly rare. They reflect cases in which parents refuse to use any of the strategies offered. Don’t be that parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion but I think it's incredibly valuable for immigrant children to get a chance to visit their home country and practice a different language than English. They will learn far more doing that than they will sitting in a classroom. It's an actively good thing when that happens imo.

If they’re here for asylum doesn’t mean it was too dangerous to be in their home countries?

Yes, the vast majority of the immigrants are not legitimate asylum seekers.

Your blinders are showing.

[Anonymous]

What is the end-game with unenrolling students? I don’t understand the policy goals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the end-game with unenrolling students? I don’t understand the policy goals.

I see two. First, motivate parents to keep kids in school. Second, remove chronic absences from the data set - they won't show up as chronically absent if they're not enrolled.

[Anonymous]

How does it motivate parents? If it’s a hassle to re-enroll, won’t they just let Junior move on without school

The second goal you mention is just about getting around publishing unpleasant data. That can’t be a stated goal.

I’m still confused.

[Anonymous]

My kids are aged out of the school system, so this doesn't impact me. Still, I agree with others who have asked questions about this policy, especially when it comes to COVID. Has MCPSS articulated a clear policy that if you have symptoms and a positive COVID test, your kid can return to school as soon as the symptoms are better or they are fever-free, even if that's just a few days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test? Are they asking COVID positive children to return to school before day 5 (which is six days after the onset of symptoms or positive test, whichever is earlier)? While I know that Day 1 is not always going to be a Monday, if it is, then a COVID positive kid has to go to the doctor to get a note if the parent keeps them home in accordance with CDC guidance even if medical treatment isn't needed? That seems nuts. You go to the doctor for medical treatment, not notes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does it motivate parents? If it’s a hassle to re-enroll, won’t they just let Junior move on without school

The second goal you mention is just about getting around publishing unpleasant data. That can’t be a stated goal.

I’m still confused.

Do you really think a child who is unenrolled from school and not reenrolled elsewhere won’t have consequences?

You’re either too ignorant to engage in the conversation and need to educate yourself before you ask questions so they can be rooted in some foundational level of understanding, or you’re playing dumb to question the policy in a passive way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are aged out of the school system, so this doesn't impact me. Still, I agree with others who have asked questions about this policy, especially when it comes to COVID. Has MCPSS articulated a clear policy that if you have symptoms and a positive COVID test, your kid can return to school as soon as the symptoms are better or they are fever-free, even if that's just a few days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test? Are they asking COVID positive children to return to school before day 5 (which is six days after the onset of symptoms or positive test, whichever is earlier)? While I know that Day 1 is not always going to be a Monday, if it is, then a COVID positive kid has to go to the doctor to get a note if the parent keeps them home in accordance with CDC guidance even if medical treatment isn't needed? That seems nuts. You go to the doctor for medical treatment, not notes.

You can’t be serious.

Have you seen a doctor in the last three decades? Doctor’s visits last for about 10-15 minutes and in those brief interactions, they’re either writing you a drug prescription or giving you a note to excuse you for work/school.

Again, this is not new. It’s been this way for a long time. I don’t know why people are acting brand new, or why they’re acting like a school district should allow kids to be absent from school for more than 5 days SOLELY on the word of the parents. That’s nuts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the crackdown is in response to families who travel abroad for long trips to visit family.

Curious how this will play out.

This isn’t new.

Sigh.

The travel and absences aren’t new, but mcps is taking a hardline on absences this year…which is new.

Literally every teacher at back to school night had talking points on it. Plus a video from the principal.

There’s a long thread in this forum foreshadowing this hardline. Remember the chronic absenteeism discussion?

Another new bit: if you have 10 unexcused absences, you will unenrolled.

Like a pp said: this hardline isn’t for the “good” people. But I think it’s bizarre to take a hardline with good students when the real issue is immigrant families or others who disappear for weeks/months on end to travel abroad and the very real issue of unaccompanied Latinos or other boys who aren’t interested in school.

I think/hope? It’s a tactic to unenroll troublemakers.

It’s just frustrating that if my kid tests positive for covid I’ll need to take them to the doctor and essentially pay for a note to excuse their absence.

I for one am glad that MCPS doesn't have one policy for the "good kids" and another for the immigrants.

Sigh.

Obviously.

The point is the good parents will worry about this and take steps to comply, but the others will continue to give Zero Fs.

And then what?

Will those kids be unenrolled?

Doubt it.

The schools will chase down the good families and bend over backwards to accommodate or turn a blind eye to the real truants.

We already see this in the more affluent schools where kids from good families get harsher penalties than those from bad family situations. An example from a middle school a few years ago: white kid and nonwhite kid get into a tussle during lunch. White kid who was the victim and had never been in trouble at school was suspended while nonwhite kid who was routinely in trouble got in-school detention…which meant nothing. The reason given: his parents aren’t involved and he’ll just goof off at home. No real ramifications. Was back in class almost immediately.

Sounds like different policies, no?

Nice job! "white kid" = "good families" and "nonwhite kid" = "bad family situations"

I was just presenting the details from a specific incident that occurred, not making a sweeping generalization.

When this happened, lots of families discussed it and dozens of similar situations were shared.

In short: poor kid with a checked out single parent gets a pass…unless they are white..:because apparently it’s a big no no in mcps to punish students of certain races and genders (stats reflect poorly on the school and thus the principal).

This shouldn’t surprise anyone. After all, the entire curriculum and school day has been dumbed down so more kids can appear to succeed by meeting the very low bar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are aged out of the school system, so this doesn't impact me. Still, I agree with others who have asked questions about this policy, especially when it comes to COVID. Has MCPSS articulated a clear policy that if you have symptoms and a positive COVID test, your kid can return to school as soon as the symptoms are better or they are fever-free, even if that's just a few days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test? Are they asking COVID positive children to return to school before day 5 (which is six days after the onset of symptoms or positive test, whichever is earlier)? While I know that Day 1 is not always going to be a Monday, if it is, then a COVID positive kid has to go to the doctor to get a note if the parent keeps them home in accordance with CDC guidance even if medical treatment isn't needed? That seems nuts. You go to the doctor for medical treatment, not notes.

You can’t be serious.

Have you seen a doctor in the last three decades? Doctor’s visits last for about 10-15 minutes and in those brief interactions, they’re either writing you a drug prescription or giving you a note to excuse you for work/school.

Again, this is not new. It’s been this way for a long time. I don’t know why people are acting brand new, or why they’re acting like a school district should allow kids to be absent from school for more than 5 days SOLELY on the word of the parents. That’s nuts!

No, it is different because, before COVID, there was no public health advice that COVID-positive people remain isolated for 5 days. The old advice was fever-free for 24 hours. And that was my question. If your kid is COVID-positive and fever-free, does MCPSS want the kid back in school, even if it's day two or three?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are aged out of the school system, so this doesn't impact me. Still, I agree with others who have asked questions about this policy, especially when it comes to COVID. Has MCPSS articulated a clear policy that if you have symptoms and a positive COVID test, your kid can return to school as soon as the symptoms are better or they are fever-free, even if that's just a few days after the onset of symptoms or a positive test? Are they asking COVID positive children to return to school before day 5 (which is six days after the onset of symptoms or positive test, whichever is earlier)? While I know that Day 1 is not always going to be a Monday, if it is, then a COVID positive kid has to go to the doctor to get a note if the parent keeps them home in accordance with CDC guidance even if medical treatment isn't needed? That seems nuts. You go to the doctor for medical treatment, not notes.

You can’t be serious.

Have you seen a doctor in the last three decades? Doctor’s visits last for about 10-15 minutes and in those brief interactions, they’re either writing you a drug prescription or giving you a note to excuse you for work/school.

Again, this is not new. It’s been this way for a long time. I don’t know why people are acting brand new, or why they’re acting like a school district should allow kids to be absent from school for more than 5 days SOLELY on the word of the parents. That’s nuts!

No, it is different because, before COVID, there was no public health advice that COVID-positive people remain isolated for 5 days. The old advice was fever-free for 24 hours. And that was my question. If your kid is COVID-positive and fever-free, does MCPSS want the kid back in school, even if it's day two or three?

For students, apparently the answer is YES: send your covid positive kid to school or risk the wrath of the new attendance policy!

For teachers: go ahead, girl! Take your 5 days and enjoy!

I hate it when everyone sends obviously sick kids to school in the days leading up to thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break. It happens every year.

Why? Because these parents are scooting out a day or two early or returning a few days late so they don’t want Larla to miss too many classes.

Last year there was an obviously sick kid at school the week before Xmas break. Apparently Larla’s parents couldn’t take off work since they had big vacation planned. Well, Larla tested positive at school after vomiting on her desk and being sent to the nurse. Parents were furious! Covid ripped through the classroom, elementary school and middle school (where Larla’s sibling attends). Tons of families had to cancel their plans but Larla recovered just enough to fly to FL for her vacation.

Sick kids should stay home.

Since mcps is hell bent on doing everything online, kids can actually keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what’s the consequences? They actually will arrest you if the kids is absent for more than 5 days?

If absent for 10 consecutive days, your kid can be unenrolled from MCPS. Which means you'll have to go through all of the paperwork of reenrolling them again if that happens.

It also means if you don't reenroll them or enroll them either in homeschool or private school, you could get in trouble with the state and then yes, get arrested for child neglect.

1. This is for unexcused absences.
2. The school PPW will work with families who are approaching this threshold to see what can be retroactively excused and to put in place a plan to avoid additional unexcused absences. In one case that involved connecting the mom with a diaper bank because the MS student was kept home whenever the baby sibling couldn’t go to daycare due to the family running out of diapers.
3. Even if you are reported for child neglect due to truancy, CPS will investigate. If they find this constitutes neglect, a social worker is going to work with your family.
4. Arrests of parents for truancy are exceedingly rare. They reflect cases in which parents refuse to use any of the strategies offered. Don’t be that parent.

Cps isn’t getting involved. Stop making dumb threats. If mcps refuses to do basics to prevent colds, flu and Covid, the. Tuff. I’m not sending a sick kid to school. No one is arrested either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does it motivate parents? If it’s a hassle to re-enroll, won’t they just let Junior move on without school

The second goal you mention is just about getting around publishing unpleasant data. That can’t be a stated goal.

I’m still confused.

Do you really think a child who is unenrolled from school and not reenrolled elsewhere won’t have consequences?

You’re either too ignorant to engage in the conversation and need to educate yourself before you ask questions so they can be rooted in some foundational level of understanding, or you’re playing dumb to question the policy in a passive way.

No one monitors this stuff. Be real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does it motivate parents? If it’s a hassle to re-enroll, won’t they just let Junior move on without school

The second goal you mention is just about getting around publishing unpleasant data. That can’t be a stated goal.

I’m still confused.

Do you really think a child who is unenrolled from school and not reenrolled elsewhere won’t have consequences?

You’re either too ignorant to engage in the conversation and need to educate yourself before you ask questions so they can be rooted in some foundational level of understanding, or you’re playing dumb to question the policy in a passive way.

I am trying to educate myself. I’ve researched the MD state rules on expulsions, the MCPS attendance policy, and asked here. What education would be useful? What consequences does a family or child face from being unenrolled?