Reply to MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]They should make schools more engaging if they want kids to attend. Forcing it with punitive measures is a bad look. If your service is not very useful to students and parents, of course they won't use it as much. I don't see how chronic absenteeism per se is a problem at all. It's just a symptom of schools not being that fun or educational.[/quote]

+1000.  Our family learned during the chronic illness of a child (who missed a lot of school), that as far as "value-added, being present in the building added almost nothing to education (social peer relationships aside).  DD could finish an entire school day's worth of lessons in 2 hrs.

Why go to school to sit in a chair for 4 extra hours a day? To listen to teacher spew racism or sexism or teach things incorrectly (especially in math & science)?

The whole "chronic absenteeism" problem analysis is backwards - it starts with how many are absent and how can we punish them enough to show up, when the real question should be "why are they missing school and what can we do to address the problems that cause chronic absenteeism? [/quote]

Our school social workers and counselors bend over backwards to meet with families to find out what the school can do to help. There is no actual reason most of these kids miss school. No transportation issues (everyone lives within walking distance of school except for some special ed students who are bussed). No health issues. Nada. The parents just don’t care (and they’ll say so). [/quote]

How you know if there are no transportation issues, health issues, etc.  You are blessed if you are waking distance and no health issues.  We are not walking distance and a parent with health issues.   You wouldn't know as we don't talk about it to people like you.  And, we don't get bus so its a nightmare.[/quote]

It sounds like you have a challenging situation at home, and I'm sorry for that. It is a tough situation to be in--and to wish that you could do better. A lot of the kids who are just not showing up have similar stories and challenges—parents (or guardians) who just can't make getting to school happen. Have you reached out to the HS counseling staff (if they won't answer your call, just walk in)? HS counselors absolutely work with parents and extended family to find solutions to get kids to school. If you aren't reaching out, you are part of the problem. Even if you don't want to be, you are in the "just don't care category" right now.

I truly do wish the best for you and your family. MCPS staff can only address problems that they know about, and can only address problems when the parent/guardian/extended family are active in the process. Counseling staff don't have a magic wand to get your kid to school. Part of the solution is going to have to be addressed in the home environment.[/quote]

You are kidding right?  We had an issue at school last week and I called the counselor, VP and another person and no one could bother to get back to me until I emailed the principal.

My kid goes to school every day.  My spouse thank goodness has a flexible job right now to usually make it happen.  But, the point is you don't know what someone is going through.  Our counselor is useless.  Doesn't help with anything, including registration.  Cannot give us answers to basic questions.   And, not everyone has extended family to help, even if the family is local.[/quote]

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