Anonymous
05/13/2024 16:19
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
They can’t fix the problem until they acknowledge:
1. For whatever reason, teachers routinely mark students absent even when they are present.
2. A growing percentage of students aren’t interested in receiving an education. Many/most are immigrants or first generation who must work and/or provide childcare for their immigrant families (often extended families). Wrap your head around that, mcps.
3. The lowered bar and lack of consequences make it nearly impossible for students to take school seriously…even the “good” kids.
Gentle suggestion: go observe an area catholic school to get a handle on setting expectations and enforcing rules. ICYMI: those schools raise the bar instead of lowering it, and even low income BIPOC students thrive.
PS - If mcps can’t provide safe restrooms, then how on earth can they aspire to provide a rigorous education?
#overit
1. For whatever reason, teachers routinely mark students absent even when they are present.
2. A growing percentage of students aren’t interested in receiving an education. Many/most are immigrants or first generation who must work and/or provide childcare for their immigrant families (often extended families). Wrap your head around that, mcps.
3. The lowered bar and lack of consequences make it nearly impossible for students to take school seriously…even the “good” kids.
Gentle suggestion: go observe an area catholic school to get a handle on setting expectations and enforcing rules. ICYMI: those schools raise the bar instead of lowering it, and even low income BIPOC students thrive.
PS - If mcps can’t provide safe restrooms, then how on earth can they aspire to provide a rigorous education?
#overit
Anonymous
05/13/2024 14:41
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:They know what they are doing. Admin are holding teachers jobs and livelihoods over their heads to fraudulently pass them along without evidence of mastery while simultaneously blaming the teachers for incompetence to make a case to oust new teachers who don't understand the corrupt state of education. It's a tough lesson to learn but all the evidence is clear to anyone paying attention.
The bigger problem is teachers are not held accountable. Our teachers don't even respond to email. So, you cannot complain parents aren't involved when those of us who try cannot find out what's going on or work with the teacher to fix things.
Anonymous
05/13/2024 14:40
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:Whenever I watch old movies, I see kids running to class to make it on time. Doesn’t happen like that anymore. There are no consequences for lateness or skipping. I really noticed it picking up and becoming a problem since 2018. Kids were just not being held accountable by parents or admin. Teachers were told not to write referrals. I was shocked. A year earlier in another middle school a student had just attempted suicide in a staff bathroom while skipping a class.
Parents cannot control what happens at school, especially when teachers and staff refuse to communicate with them.
Anonymous
05/13/2024 14:07
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:Bring back the LC for five unexcused abscences then you have to go to summer school worked in the 90s not sure why it is so difficult to implement now
Read the rest of this thread thoroughly please. This was addressed directly in the board meeting and in this thread.
Anonymous
05/13/2024 14:05
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Whenever I watch old movies, I see kids running to class to make it on time. Doesn’t happen like that anymore. There are no consequences for lateness or skipping. I really noticed it picking up and becoming a problem since 2018. Kids were just not being held accountable by parents or admin. Teachers were told not to write referrals. I was shocked. A year earlier in another middle school a student had just attempted suicide in a staff bathroom while skipping a class.
Anonymous
05/13/2024 13:53
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Bring back the LC for five unexcused abscences then you have to go to summer school worked in the 90s not sure why it is so difficult to implement now
Anonymous
05/13/2024 13:28
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
They know what they are doing. Admin are holding teachers jobs and livelihoods over their heads to fraudulently pass them along without evidence of mastery while simultaneously blaming the teachers for incompetence to make a case to oust new teachers who don't understand the corrupt state of education. It's a tough lesson to learn but all the evidence is clear to anyone paying attention.
Anonymous
05/13/2024 09:54
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
They could start charging parents for unexcused absences like they do in the UK. Nice revenue stream.
https://apple.news/A-hJ5NlZcSriNjORWcXHh6g
https://apple.news/A-hJ5NlZcSriNjORWcXHh6g
Anonymous
05/13/2024 09:45
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
+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?
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).
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.
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.
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.
Anonymous
05/13/2024 09:25
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Does no one see the irony of allowing homeschooling with next to zero oversight AND allowing straight up dropping out of school at 16 but cracking down on truancy? It's too silly.
What makes you think that homeschoolers have next to zero oversight?
Look at the requirements: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/homeschooling/procedures/
All they have to do is maintain a portfolio and review it twice a year. The portfolio can be truly almost anything. They do not actually test the kids to see if they have learned a thing.
You have voluntarily chosen to submit to the rules of public school. You get resources for your child, a state diploma, IEP services, etc. and in exchange, standardized testing and attendance is required. Homeschoolers get none of those things, and in exchange they get to come meet twice a year with an obnoxious person who hates homeschooling but they get relative freedom. Without a diploma, kids need standardized testing in order to do anything but get a minimum wage job. I think you need to find another outlet for your rage about attendance requirements. If you are interested in homeschooling, fill out the form and see how "easy" it is.
I just find it fascinating how homeschoolers simultaneously argue that it's a superior experience but that is just too much work to actually demonstrate how their children are getting that Superior educational experience. Poor you. I would love to see homeschool families try to uphold the same educational standards as teachers before they try to argue that their experiences are superior. Of course Laura and larlo are going to get A's when Mom and Dad are giving the an A. Of course your parents are going to think you're gifted
You have no idea what goes on in the homeschool world. Each of my children entered college with more than a year's worth of AP credits, just like top kids in public school. As I mentioned above, standardized tests are the ONLY way that homeschoolers can show the legitimacy of their work, so almost all kids are taking them often. Probably not in elementary school, but then a huge proportion of MCPS elementary students are failing to show proficiency anyway, so your outrage is worthless.
Anonymous
05/12/2024 14:46
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Does no one see the irony of allowing homeschooling with next to zero oversight AND allowing straight up dropping out of school at 16 but cracking down on truancy? It's too silly.
What makes you think that homeschoolers have next to zero oversight?
Look at the requirements: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/homeschooling/procedures/
All they have to do is maintain a portfolio and review it twice a year. The portfolio can be truly almost anything. They do not actually test the kids to see if they have learned a thing.
You have voluntarily chosen to submit to the rules of public school. You get resources for your child, a state diploma, IEP services, etc. and in exchange, standardized testing and attendance is required. Homeschoolers get none of those things, and in exchange they get to come meet twice a year with an obnoxious person who hates homeschooling but they get relative freedom. Without a diploma, kids need standardized testing in order to do anything but get a minimum wage job. I think you need to find another outlet for your rage about attendance requirements. If you are interested in homeschooling, fill out the form and see how "easy" it is.
I just find it fascinating how homeschoolers simultaneously argue that it's a superior experience but that is just too much work to actually demonstrate how their children are getting that Superior educational experience. Poor you. I would love to see homeschool families try to uphold the same educational standards as teachers before they try to argue that their experiences are superior. Of course Laura and larlo are going to get A's when Mom and Dad are giving the an A. Of course your parents are going to think you're gifted
Anonymous
05/12/2024 08:07
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
I teach a special program that allows kids to come to a different high school. There are several students who come maybe once every two weeks. They basically treat MCPS as homeschool and just do the online assignments on MyMCPS to keep up. I have had to make my grading due dates and deadlines more strict to avoid these students and others from abusing the lack of enforced MCPS policies.
Anonymous
05/12/2024 07:52
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
+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?
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).
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.
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.
Anonymous
05/12/2024 07:43
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid will be chronically absent after Monday, when he misses one day for travel. All others were illness (including covid) plus one other travel day. Will we get a letter?
We got a letter for my 6 year old this fall for missing 6 days of school (for 2 different bouts of illness- bronchitis, pneumonia). That apparently equated to 10% of school days missed? And my kid is generally healthy- I can’t imagine how children with chronic health issues will manage if there is any eventual enforcement of this “policy.” At a minimum, there needs to be a differentiation between absences for a documented medical reason vs elective absences.
Kids with chronic illnesses can get 504 plans for it. 10% of the school year is 18 missed days.
Even with the 504 and all absences excused, we get letters for my kid who had a serious flare up of chronic illness last year
So ignore it. It’s a letter they are required to send out due to state regulations. You know this letter is not for your kid. Jeez.
Anonymous
05/12/2024 07:04
Subject: MCPS has no idea what it's doing when it comes to chronic absenteeism
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid will be chronically absent after Monday, when he misses one day for travel. All others were illness (including covid) plus one other travel day. Will we get a letter?
We got a letter for my 6 year old this fall for missing 6 days of school (for 2 different bouts of illness- bronchitis, pneumonia). That apparently equated to 10% of school days missed? And my kid is generally healthy- I can’t imagine how children with chronic health issues will manage if there is any eventual enforcement of this “policy.” At a minimum, there needs to be a differentiation between absences for a documented medical reason vs elective absences.
Kids with chronic illnesses can get 504 plans for it. 10% of the school year is 18 missed days.
Even with the 504 and all absences excused, we get letters for my kid who had a serious flare up of chronic illness last year