MCPS Addresses Chronic Absenteeism, Offers Potential Solutions

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) data reveals that students are more chronically absent this school year than before COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. However, the first quarter of the 2023-24 school year saw a decrease in absenteeism from the previous year.

In the 2018-19 school year, 19.5% of students were chronically absent. In the 2022-23 school year, that percent increased to 26.2% of students. So far, in the 2023-24 school year 21.4% of students are chronically absent.

Students are “chronically absent” if they miss 10% or more of school days per year, regardless of the reason. This is equal to around 18 days every school year, or around two days per month. Truant students are absent or unexcused and miss 20% or more of the school year, according to an MCPS presentation...

MCPS Addresses Chronic Absenteeism, Offers Potential Solutions - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)

More than 20% of students in Montgomery Co. schools are ‘chronically absent’

The number of Montgomery County students who are categorized as ‘chronically absent’ has dropped from last year’s high of 26%, but remains above 20%, according to data shared with county council members on Monday.

According to information from the Montgomery County Public Schools system, the percentage of students who are ‘chronically absent’ — that is, they are missing more than 10% of class time for any reason — is 21.4%.

That’s a nearly five percentage point drop from the 26.2% listed as chronically absent during the 2022-2023 school year, but still higher than the pre-pandemic figure of 19.5%...

More than 20% of students in Montgomery Co. schools are ‘chronically absent’ - WTOP News

Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt said she and other staff members conduct walk-throughs of the plaza to direct students who are supposed to be on school campuses back to class.

What’s being done to keep Alexandria students away from local shopping plaza during school day

Fewer major incidents involving students have occurred since Alexandria, Virginia, police and school leaders increased their presence in a local shopping center where a student was stabbed last May, some business leaders said.

An Alexandria City High School student was stabbed in a fight at the Bradlee Shopping Center on King Street last year and later died from his injuries. The incident came during a brawl that police at the time said featured dozens of students...

What’s being done to keep Alexandria students away from local shopping plaza during school day - WTOP News

42,863 out of about 160,000 students were deemed chronically absent during the previous school year.

All Together Now: In Schools Together, Learn Together, Achieve Together. This is the theme of Montgomery County Public Schools’ newly rolled out attendance action plan.

During the previous school year, 42,863 out of about 160,000 students were deemed chronically absent, meaning they missed 18 or more days of school, which is 10% of the school year.

During the 2018-2019 school year, 30,349 students were chronically absent.

According to MCPS statistics, during the previous school year, 30% of African American students receiving free or reduced meals were chronically absent. More than 42% of Hispanic students receiving free or reduced meals were chronically absent.

At the high school level, 36% of students were chronically absent...

MCPS Declares War on Chronic Absenteeism - Montgomery Community Media (mymcmedia.org)