Chronic Absenteeism Was 23% in 2022

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

My kids were out 4-5 days each time they had covid this year which they got at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

I was referring to the CDC protocols, which were updated, but you're right. I see MCPS punted on updating its protocols in alignment with the CDC's shift until after Spring Break....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

My kids were out 4-5 days each time they had covid this year which they got at school.

There is a difference between chronic absenteeism and excused absences due to illness. If you write the school, and provide medical documentation, as needed, then your student is not chronically absent. It's a different category.

[Anonymous]

I think these numbers are exaggerated. All my kids probably count as chronically absent because —

Teachers often don’t take accurate attendance (especially subs) and it seems picayune to email them and make them correct it

My kids have been sick a lot this year. We all had covid in the fall, but one had strep, one had flu (in October!), and one had a weeklong pukijg thing, but assorted other ailments.

There were certain days they just ditched because they knew no teachers were teaching. Eg, the half day they did after the SAT where each class was about 20 minutes long. We pulled them for those dumb half days before Thanksgiving when the teachers just played movies.

This also includes all the medical absences for appointments. My kids with braces have to leave school early once a month for that plus one had ohywical therapy for a unity, etc etc.

I think there is a significant truancy problem but this number probably encompasses a lot of kids who I would not consider chronically truant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

My kids were out 4-5 days each time they had covid this year which they got at school.

There is a difference between chronic absenteeism and excused absences due to illness. If you write the school, and provide medical documentation, as needed, then your student is not chronically absent. It's a different category.

Actually, chronically absent is a status that does include excused absences. So that doesn't solve the issue, though I imagine schools are smart enough to prioritize going after the students for whom the majority of their chronic absenteeism is unexcused vs those who have a majority of their absences excused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

My kids were out 4-5 days each time they had covid this year which they got at school.

There is a difference between chronic absenteeism and excused absences due to illness. If you write the school, and provide medical documentation, as needed, then your student is not chronically absent. It's a different category.

Actually, chronically absent is a status that does include excused absences. So that doesn't solve the issue, though I imagine schools are smart enough to prioritize going after the students for whom the majority of their chronic absenteeism is unexcused vs those who have a majority of their absences excused.

So the post-pandemic increase is likely attributed to COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think these numbers are exaggerated. All my kids probably count as chronically absent because —

Teachers often don’t take accurate attendance (especially subs) and it seems picayune to email them and make them correct it

My kids have been sick a lot this year. We all had covid in the fall, but one had strep, one had flu (in October!), and one had a weeklong pukijg thing, but assorted other ailments.

There were certain days they just ditched because they knew no teachers were teaching. Eg, the half day they did after the SAT where each class was about 20 minutes long. We pulled them for those dumb half days before Thanksgiving when the teachers just played movies.

This also includes all the medical absences for appointments. My kids with braces have to leave school early once a month for that plus one had ohywical therapy for a unity, etc etc.

I think there is a significant truancy problem but this number probably encompasses a lot of kids who I would not consider chronically truant.

It's not ok to ditch on those SAT half days. Parents like you who don't care are why kids are skipping so much.

[Anonymous]

Kids are still getting Covid and are sometimes staying sick for at least a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these numbers are exaggerated. All my kids probably count as chronically absent because —

Teachers often don’t take accurate attendance (especially subs) and it seems picayune to email them and make them correct it

My kids have been sick a lot this year. We all had covid in the fall, but one had strep, one had flu (in October!), and one had a weeklong pukijg thing, but assorted other ailments.

There were certain days they just ditched because they knew no teachers were teaching. Eg, the half day they did after the SAT where each class was about 20 minutes long. We pulled them for those dumb half days before Thanksgiving when the teachers just played movies.

This also includes all the medical absences for appointments. My kids with braces have to leave school early once a month for that plus one had ohywical therapy for a unity, etc etc.

I think there is a significant truancy problem but this number probably encompasses a lot of kids who I would not consider chronically truant.

It's not ok to ditch on those SAT half days. Parents like you who don't care are why kids are skipping so much.

To be fair, parents aren't coming up with this on their own. Teachers and admin informally tell kids it's ok to miss on those days too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

I was referring to the CDC protocols, which were updated, but you're right. I see MCPS punted on updating its protocols in alignment with the CDC's shift until after Spring Break....

I don't know why MCPS wouldn't just follow public health agency protocol, but I guess they know better than the CDC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

My kids were out 4-5 days each time they had covid this year which they got at school.

There is a difference between chronic absenteeism and excused absences due to illness. If you write the school, and provide medical documentation, as needed, then your student is not chronically absent. It's a different category.

Not the case at our school - excused absences count toward the chronic absenteeism total. They are telling parents who keep their lower elementary kids home when they are sick to keep germs out of the class to bring them in so they can lower their chronic absenteeism numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

My kids were out 4-5 days each time they had covid this year which they got at school.

There is a difference between chronic absenteeism and excused absences due to illness. If you write the school, and provide medical documentation, as needed, then your student is not chronically absent. It's a different category.

I wish the schools would recognize the difference between excused and unexcused absences before sending home those pink notes. My kid has has a large number of absences due to a medical condition. Just rubbed me the wrong way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

My kids were out 4-5 days each time they had covid this year which they got at school.

There is a difference between chronic absenteeism and excused absences due to illness. If you write the school, and provide medical documentation, as needed, then your student is not chronically absent. It's a different category.

Not the case at our school - excused absences count toward the chronic absenteeism total. They are telling parents who keep their lower elementary kids home when they are sick to keep germs out of the class to bring them in so they can lower their chronic absenteeism numbers.

Name the school or I call BS. No reasonable Admin wants sicks kids in their school. The only folks they would tell this to are families they believe are lying about being sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Chronically absent kids are absent 18 days or more. Let’s be real. Most kids who are chronically absent aren’t absent because they are sick.

These days many kids miss out on school more frequently than in the past because they are sick with COVID. You can't just send them to school to infect all the other kids.

Number one, COVID is one of many viruses in circulation. There's no evidence the increase in chronic absenteeism is related to a corresponding increase in COVID infections.

Furthermore, the isolation protocols for those who are sick with COVID have been updated for some time. There is no need to stay away from school for 5 days by default. It is now driven by the severity of the symptoms.

Just before Spring break, MCPS sent out an email reminding people that it has not updated isolation protocol and that five days absence are mandatory. I'm sure lots of people have ignored that, but those who follow the rules or call the school to ask isolate at least 5 days. -DP

My kids were out 4-5 days each time they had covid this year which they got at school.

There is a difference between chronic absenteeism and excused absences due to illness. If you write the school, and provide medical documentation, as needed, then your student is not chronically absent. It's a different category.

Not the case at our school - excused absences count toward the chronic absenteeism total. They are telling parents who keep their lower elementary kids home when they are sick to keep germs out of the class to bring them in so they can lower their chronic absenteeism numbers.

Name the school or I call BS. No reasonable Admin wants sicks kids in their school. The only folks they would tell this to are families they believe are lying about being sick.

There is no way that I am naming the school so that DCUM can be all over the principal. It definitely happened and I don't care if some anonymous person calls BS. The point is that principals are under a lot of pressure to get these numbers down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Education is far too important to be left to schools and teachers. Families must have education as their priority if they want to their kids to make something out of their lives, government can run only so many programs, only so much assistance can be offered. At the end of it, it will come down to the culture and environment at home.

Just an anecdote, I know a cab driver, his wife stocks shelves at Giant. One of their kids finished Computer Engineering from UMD and the other kid finished Economics degree from UMD, both are working in six figure jobs. Now, granted they have a good, peaceful environment at home and they tracked their kids grades every quarter but they struggled with work hours and money. It can be done but doing it must be your priority.

My appliance repair guy who is an immigrant has a daughter who went to John Hopkins and she is now a doctor who specializes in treating breast cancer.