ALL TOGETHER NOW, In School Together, Learn Together, Achieve Together: Parent Message on the Importance of Student Attendance

Montgomery County Public Schools and its ALL TOGETHER NOW, In School Together, Learn Together, Achieve Together: Attendance Action Plan aims to remove chronic absenteeism as a factor in students' ability to succeed. The plan has a multi-faceted approach to addressing chronic absenteeism in our schools.

First, consider the impact of not attending school regularly. Here are some sobering statistics regarding school attendance in the United States today. These numbers reflect the challenges we face in ensuring consistent attendance and removing its impact on our children's education:

• According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 6.5 million students were considered chronically absent during the 2019-2020 academic year.
  
  
• The Attendance Works organization reports that students who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read proficiently by third grade. 
• A study conducted by the University of Chicago found that high school students with chronic absenteeism are more likely to drop out, resulting in limited future opportunities and reduced earning potential.
• The impact of absenteeism goes beyond academics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight that students who miss school are more susceptible to negative social and emotional outcomes, including increased involvement in risky behaviors and decreased engagement in school activities.

In Maryland, chronic absenteeism is defined as 18 days or more in a single school year. Here is the data for MCPS from just before to immediately after the pandemic..

• 2018-2019 School Year – 30,349 students chronically absent (19.55%)
• 2022-2023 School Year – 42,863 students chronically absent (27%)

These statistics remind us of the urgent need to prioritize regular school attendance. 

Here's why student attendance plays a crucial role:

In school together:
Attending school regularly ensures that our children are actively participating in lessons, and engaging with their peers and teachers. By being physically present in school, our children have access to valuable resources, facilities and a supportive learning environment that promotes growth and development.

Learning together:

Regular attendance allows children to receive consistent instruction, follow the curriculum effectively and stay on track with academic progress. Classroom interactions and discussions enable children to exchange ideas, challenge their thinking and gain a deeper understanding of the subjects they are learning.

Achieve together:

Research shows a strong correlation between good attendance and academic performance. When students attend school regularly, they have more opportunities to succeed academically and achieve their full potential. Active participation in class activities and projects fosters collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, all of which are essential for future success.

ALL TOGETHER NOW, let's work together to create a supportive and nurturing environment for our children's educational journey. We understand that circumstances may arise when absences are unavoidable due to illness or other genuine reasons. In such cases, we encourage you to communicate with the school, provide the necessary documentation and work collaboratively with teachers to minimize any impact on your child's education.

Thank you for your vital support in fostering a culture of attendance and collaboration. Together, we will empower our children to thrive academically, grow socially and achieve their dreams. It will be a great school year, full of excitement and opportunity and that happens when our students are in school every day.

Montgomery County Public Schools

Read the MCPS Attendance Action Plan.