Reply to Increase Absenteeism in Midle/Upper SES students not due to illness?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is not an FCPS calendar issue. It’s a problem all over. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA956-34.html[/quote]

+1. Anyone who thinks this is limited to FCPS or due to the calendar hasn't been paying attention to the news. It's happening everywhere. Part of the problem is that teachers are strongly discouraged from failing students or letting anyone drop out. 30 years ago, the kids who didn't go to school failed and had to repeat the grade if they wanted a diploma. Some got moved to alternative schools where they were coached through the curriculum separate from their peers. Not attending school wasn't an option if you wanted to graduate. Tying funding to graduation rates was a big mistake because it created a horrible system where teachers aren't allowed to give students grades that actually reflect their mastery of the content and everyone is going to pass no matter what.[/quote]

FCPS teacher here.  This is it 100%.  Grades cannot be tied to behavior, so absences don't matter.  Kids are also allowed to make up work/complete retakes for everything.  We also have a thing at our school (not sure if it's our school or all FCPS) where if a student stays after school with you, you record that time and it somehow counts toward their attendance.  Kids also know that many of their assignments are online or in Schoology, so if they need to make up work, they don't necessarily need to be in class to do so.  I've been teaching in FCPS for over 20 years.  It's bad.  [/quote]

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