Middle school does not take attendance

[luvmy3]

Many people could do that but many of us live within walking distance of the school and our children are much too old to want Mom or Dad tagging along the block or two to school. Even once you child is on the school yard there is no guarantee they are safe. A couple years ago a girl was abducted from the school yard in the next city and was found dead 3 months later. I'm sure bus drivers aren't walking each child directly to their classrooms either. I'm not saying a school needs to be doing a parents job for them but if a child isn't where they're supposed to be it's nice to hear about it before it's been several hours.

It would be nice, but like I said it should not be necessary for the school to notify the parent. If a parent is worried that their child isn't going to make it into the school safely, then they should do what it takes to make sure they know their kid made it to school. That includes doing things that the kids may not like. We shouldn't rely on the school to keep us from worrying.

 

[teacherforhi]

It is also generally state mandated that a call be made by/before a certain time but at the middle school level that is possibly different from the elementary level.

I agree they can't just decide to no longer take attendance and from what the OP posted I don't get that impression..simply that their actions when a child is not present are different not that they aren't taking attendance.

If information like attendance is available to view online with their grades (in our district you can see absences when you go to the website to view grades..it's a district wide program they use) and is sent home on report cards they might feel it will catch up with the kids sooner or later...progress reports and report cards all show attendance history here.

I can too you that there is no state law in NC that requires the school to call a parent if a student is absent.

We also don't expect the parents can call the school. Some call to ask for work for their children, but for the most part we know nothing about it until they either bring a note (or not) to make the absence excused.

 

[Kathi OD]

It is also generally state mandated that a call be made by/before a certain time but at the middle school level that is possibly different from the elementary level.

I agree they can't just decide to no longer take attendance and from what the OP posted I don't get that impression..simply that their actions when a child is not present are different not that they aren't taking attendance.

If information like attendance is available to view online with their grades (in our district you can see absences when you go to the website to view grades..it's a district wide program they use) and is sent home on report cards they might feel it will catch up with the kids sooner or later...progress reports and report cards all show attendance history here.

I'm not sure in what state you live, but I've taught in several states, and none of them required schools to call parents in the event of a student's absence.

Many states require that schools keep a record of why a student was absent, but that can be accomplished by the parent calling the school or sending in a note with their child when he/she returns to school.

This concept of schools "needing" to call parents is a relatively new concept and, IMO, a result of helicopter parenting and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I work in a middle school and trust me we are concerned about attendance. We have an attendance secretary who tracks kids and parents down to verify when they are out of school. I find it staggering how irresponsible so many parents are. How hard is it? If the child is staying home sick, you call the attendance line and leave a message.

School funding is determined by attendance and we have to report to the county when a certain level of absenteeism is reached. Our school serves two counties so it can be a real mess. One county has stricter standards than the other so we have to establish which county each student lives in. Makes me very glad that I don't have her job!

 

[Coconut36]

I can too you that there is no state law in NC that requires the school to call a parent if a student is absent.

We also don't expect the parents can call the school. Some call to ask for work for their children, but for the most part we know nothing about it until they either bring a note (or not) to make the absence excused.

I'm not sure in what state you live, but I've taught in several states, and none of them required schools to call parents in the event of a student's absence.

Many states require that schools keep a record of why a student was absent, but that can be accomplished by the parent calling the school or sending in a note with their child when he/she returns to school.

This concept of schools "needing" to call parents is a relatively new concept and, IMO, a result of helicopter parenting and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Arizona state law:

15-807. Absence from school; notification of parent or person having custody of pupil; immunity

A. If a pupil in a kindergarten program or grades one through eight is absent from school without excuse as provided in this article or without notice to the school in which the pupil is enrolled of authorization of the absence by the parent or other person who has custody of the pupil, the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall make a reasonable effort to promptly telephone and notify the parent or other person who has custody of the pupil of the pupil's absence from school:

1. Within two hours after the first class in which the pupil is absent for a pupil in kindergarten or grades one through six.

2. Within two hours after the first class in which the pupil is absent for a pupil in grade seven or eight if the first class in which the pupil is absent is the pupil's first class of the school day.

3. Within five hours after the first class in which the pupil is absent for a pupil in grade seven or eight if the first class in which the pupil is absent is after the pupil's first class of the school day.

B. On or before the enrollment of a pupil in a kindergarten program or grades one through eight, the school district shall notify parents or other persons who have custody of a pupil of their responsibility to authorize any absence of the pupil from school and to notify the school in which the pupil is enrolled in advance or at the time of any absence and that the school district requires that at least one telephone number, if available, be given for purposes of this section. The school district shall require that the telephone number, if available, be given at the time of enrollment of the pupil in school and that the school of enrollment be promptly notified of any change in the telephone number.

The schools are required by this law (and by the rules of their districts) to notify parents for UNexcused absences (and I may not have been clear about that..this occurs only if a parent/guardian has not called the child's absence in to the school). The amount of time they have to make the call varies based on the grade of the student.

I know several of the registrars that are responsible for attendance in several districts but I am not sure how long this has been a legal requirement but I know that it is.

Obviously they don't notify the parents if the absence has been called in.

 

[mjkacmom]

My dd was absent today (been out all week), and I just got off the phone with the school's automated message service letting me know my child had been absent for at least half of the day today.
I guess if she was abducted, I wouldn't know until the evening since that is when they always call.
It never occurred to me to be worried that I wouldn't know if she got to school, since its very easy for a parent to make sure their child gets on the bus or gets to school. At some point we do need to be responsible for that stuff ourselves and not rely on the school. If its something that you worry about, then drive your kid or stay with them at the bus stop and if you can't, arrange for someone else too

While I don't fear that my children will be abducted, if the school didn't call me, I wouldn't know they didn't get there. They walk, and I'm certainly not calling the office to make sure they arrived.

In our HS, if we don't call by a certain time (10?), the child gets in school suspension the next day (motivating the parents to call). Otherwise, the schools contact the parents. No note needed to go back to school.

 

[simplesimon]

It is a public school in Rhode Island. I agree with all your concerns. They are exactly what I said to my daughter. She said they told her she did not have to call in to report my granddaughter out. And it was not showing in her report card that she was out.

Day's absent was zero, when she was out for 2 days. The school system in this town is poor, and I think they just say everyone is there to get the funding.

My daughter dropped off my granddaughter the other day and watched a couple of middle school kids get off the bus and walk away from the school. I guess if they don't call or report the days out the parents never know.

This school system has a high degree of drop outs. I can understand why now if they don't care about the 10 year old students. They have told my son in law that they have seen him more than any other parent. He is always at the office pushing for my granddaughter to make sure they follow her IEP plan.

 

[Coconut36]

It is a public school in Rhode Island. I agree with all your concerns. They are exactly what I said to my daughter. She said they told her she did not have to call in to report my granddaughter out. And it was not showing in her report card that she was out.

Day's absent was zero, when she was out for 2 days. The school system in this town is poor, and I think they just say everyone is there to get the funding.

My daughter dropped off my granddaughter the other day and watched a couple of middle school kids get off the bus and walk away from the school. I guess if they don't call or report the days out the parents never know.

This school system has a high degree of drop outs. I can understand why now if they don't care about the 10 year old students. They have told my son in law that they have seen him more than any other parent. He is always at the office pushing for my granddaughter to make sure they follow her IEP plan.

I don't see how they can legally do that and odds are they will eventually get caught if they are skirting the law.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

It is a public school in Rhode Island. I agree with all your concerns. They are exactly what I said to my daughter. She said they told her she did not have to call in to report my granddaughter out. And it was not showing in her report card that she was out.

Day's absent was zero, when she was out for 2 days. The school system in this town is poor, and I think they just say everyone is there to get the funding.

My daughter dropped off my granddaughter the other day and watched a couple of middle school kids get off the bus and walk away from the school. I guess if they don't call or report the days out the parents never know.

This school system has a high degree of drop outs. I can understand why now if they don't care about the 10 year old students. They have told my son in law that they have seen him more than any other parent. He is always at the office pushing for my granddaughter to make sure they follow her IEP plan.

Is this in CF?

 

[tvguy]

I can't see that they aren't taking attendance anymore. Federal funding is based off of attenance, I believe.

Schools are state funding, not federal. So clearly the rules can vary from state to state.

In California, if they don't take attendance, they don't get paid for a child being there, so they ALWAYS take attendance. As for calling home, I don't know about it being required, but it was done when I was in school (1962 to 1975).

 

[Coconut36]

Schools are state funding, not federal. So clearly the rules can vary from state to state.

In California, if they don't take attendance, they don't get paid for a child being there, so they ALWAYS take attendance. As for calling home, I don't know about it being required, but it was done when I was in school (1962 to 1975).

Yes and no to the bold. In general the bulk of funding is at a state level however schools can and do receive supplemental funding from the feds. Title I is the most well known example of that. Any school that is a Title I school receives federal funding for example.

 

[simplesimon]

No it is not CF.

WW

 

[tvguy]

Yes and no to the bold. In general the bulk of funding is at a state level however schools can and do receive supplemental funding from the feds. Title I is the most well known example of that. Any school that is a Title I school receives federal funding for example.

Well, the California Department of Education website says all Federal Title I money goes to them, the Department of Education, for distribution to local districts. So, it is Federal money, but the state controls who gets it.

 

[Coconut36]

Well, the California Department of Education website says all Federal Title I money goes to them, the Department of Education, for distribution to local districts. So, it is Federal money, but the state controls who gets it.

But the reality is that it is federal funding not state funding regardless of who actually distributes it. You can't say they are state not federal funded if they receive federal funds like Title I. There is also federal funding in terms of IDEA grants as well (at least those are 2 of the biggest programs).

The CA Dept of Ed (well everyone that receives Title I funding) has very strict criteria is has to follow..federal guidelines regarding what schools qualify and can and can not receive that funding. It is not at their whim to give it to whatever school they want. This is not like their regular budget of funds that they can distribute based on their own criteria..this is mandated criteria on where and how the funds are used when it comes to Title I.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

This concept of schools "needing" to call parents is a relatively new concept and, IMO, a result of helicopter parenting and a waste of taxpayer dollars.

The elementary, junior high and high schools my wife and I attended, on separate sides of the country, were doing it back as far as we can both remember, i.e. the early 1980s, so it's not that new everywhere. I also don't think it's a result of helicoptering parenting; I see it as both an important safety measure and, more importantly, as a critical first line defense against truancy and dropping out.

 

[Coconut36]

The elementary, junior high and high schools my wife and I attended, on separate sides of the country, were doing it back as far as we can both remember, i.e. the early 1980s, so it's not that new everywhere. I also don't think it's a result of helicoptering parenting; I see it as both an important safety measure and, more importantly, as a critical first line defense against truancy and dropping out.

I agree. I know back when I was in school (Kinder in 1980 through 1993 senior year) they would call for unexcused absences. I know it was a safety measure back in the day..how did they know Johnny was home sick and not hurt or abducted on the way to school? How did a parent know if Johnny decide to walk back out the front gate after the bus dropped him off?

I think people are misunderstanding what would trigger a call in some areas maybe? Clearly they are not going to call you if you have called in the child's absence. It is only if the child is not present and the school has not been notified that a phone call is made. As I stated it is a law here that it be done by a certain time (within so many hours of the first class based on age..for K-8. High school is not specified and I know back in my day the call went out in the evening hours to notify parents).

 

[luvsJack]

At dd's school, the automated message thing calls regardless of whether we call in or not. We are not required to call in and since the secretary seems a bit scattered brained sometimes, its much safer to send or take in a note to get your kid's absence excused.

Next year when she goes to high school, they do not call which I think is kind of backwards.

They would have a horrible time trying to skip at the school she is at now but its fairly easy from the high school (not that I would know from experience )

They used to call from the high school (started the year after I graduated) but stopped (before my sons attended) for some reason.

 

[leebee]

Perhaps there is no money for an attendance secretary, or whoever it is that takes and makes calls about attendance. Budgets are being cut everywhere. It's possible that homeroom teachers take attendance electronically and the information is recorded for reporting/funding purposes (that's how we take attendance). However, there's nobody to answer when you call to say that Susie is sick today, and nobody to make the call home to see that Mary is really sick in bed and not cutting school.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

No it is not CF.

WW

Ah, I see. The good news is, it's not CF. But both of those related W towns have their issues. (Well, ALL towns have their issues...even Barrington with the drinking, and whatever.)

Good luck. You sound like a very concerned Grandma advocating for her grandchildren.

 

[tvguy]

But the reality is that it is federal funding not state funding regardless of who actually distributes it. You can't say they are state not federal funded if they receive federal funds like Title I. There is also federal funding in terms of IDEA grants as well (at least those are 2 of the biggest programs).

The CA Dept of Ed (well everyone that receives Title I funding) has very strict criteria is has to follow..federal guidelines regarding what schools qualify and can and can not receive that funding. It is not at their whim to give it to whatever school they want. This is not like their regular budget of funds that they can distribute based on their own criteria..this is mandated criteria on where and how the funds are used when it comes to Title I.

But getting to the OP's situation, the state distributes it, and if the school doesn't take attendance, the state withholds it, no matter what the source.