MCPS Students Graduated Despite Missing Weeks Of School: Report

BETHESDA, MD — Nearly 2,000 Montgomery County public school students were able to graduate last year, even though they had at least 20 unexcused absences in at least one class, according to a report.

The Washington Post has published its findings into these chronic absences on Saturday, which includes interviews with school officials and graduates, as well as data from attendance records. The story comes as this year's senior class prepares to graduate from the Montgomery County Public Schools system.

Citing school documents, the newspaper reported that approximately 40 percent of Albert Einstein High School's Class of 2018 missed classes 10 to more than 50 times in a semester last year.

"Records from Einstein High provide telling details about what students miss: One senior skipped algebra 36 times last spring. Another racked up 47 unexcused absences in English. Still another was gone for more than half a semester of chemistry," The Washington Post wrote.

Despite missing class, most of these students at Einstein graduated anyway.

"If 40 percent of the kids were absent to that degree, are we okay with it as a community?" Christopher Lloyd, president of the Montgomery County Education Association, told The Washington Post. "And if the answer is, no, what in the world is happening?"

School administrators did not dispute these records, according to The Post, but said many students face pressures outside the classroom and pass the classes needed to graduate.

"We want kids in school," said Superintendent Jack Smith. "We're working hard to make school a place they can be, both through engagement and through removing barriers to getting there, whether it's transportation, whether it's food, whether it's changing schedules because they have a child or they're responsible for younger siblings or they have to work."

Einstein isn't the only school that seemingly has attendance issues. Seniors who missed large chunks of instruction at other Montgomery schools were also able to graduate.

At John F. Kennedy High School, 33 percent of graduating seniors were absent 20 percent of the time, according to The Washington Post. Over at Gaithersburg and Watkins Mill high schools, it was more than 40 percent.

In interviews with the newspaper, school administrators emphasized that unexcused absences do not directly impact course grades. This, according to the newspaper, is part of the district's "standards-based" approach, which places more emphasis on learning, not attendance.

"If I can go to class 40 percent of the time and earn a B," that doesn't necessarily lead to failure at school, Jennifer Webster, director of school support and improvement for Montgomery high schools, told The Post. "It's about the grade. It's not about the number of absences."

The school district published an overview of its grading policies and procedures, which can be found here.

According to the online guide, a standards-based approach helps improve student achievement. It also is meant to help teachers plan their instruction.

"Grades based on curriculum standards become triggers for action," the school district wrote. "Standards based grades help teachers plan their instruction so they can challenge and support all students. They help parents know the academic areas in which a student meets or exceeds expectations, needs challenge, or needs support."

Montgomery educators are calling the county's attendance practices lax, vague, or inconsistent. The Post reported that some said they felt pressured to give makeup work, extend deadlines, or find ways to help students who chronically miss school pass their class.

Click here to read more of The Post's story.