These forums sponsored by the OSI sound like an excellent idea and will hopefully ultimately propose some effective solutions moving forward.

HOWEVER: you state that all forums are to be held from 10am to 1130am? One of the stated goals of the forums is to bring together educators. How, pray tell, do you intend to get educators in on the discussion if you hold all the forums during school hours? Perhaps a logistics issue that should be though of - after all, the teachers are on the front lines of the issues at BCPSS and should be involved in creating solutions.

Yes, clearly, the forums are not at a time when teachers would be able to attend. I would recommend contacting OSI with your concerns. I don't know how set in stone the times are for the future forums (I'm sure that tomorrow's is pretty locked in at this point). Presumably (hopefully) there will be some administrators there.

Well, for starters, how about some punishment for the kids (and their parents) that miss so much school?
If a 12 year old knows that he can miss 100 days of school and still pass, that's strategy. How can you blame them for working the system?

The OSI forums a great start! I'm interested to see what some of the recomendations are for reducing truancy. Perhaps we should consider bringing Pupil Personel Workers to BCPS. The neighboring counties have tens of professionals dedicated to these positions and it's makes a huge difference in not only attendance but helping resolve subsequent issues that students may have as well.

I totally agree with Steph. How does one hold a parent accountable in BCPSS when their child is absent over 100 days of school per year? By promoting them, of course. We make so many excuses for why our students aren't in school--child care, weather, illness, outside jobs. The bottom line is that other counties hold parents/guardians accountable for attendance; why can't we? Poverty is not an excuse. I also hold responsible employers who allow under 18 year olds to work until 12 every night in a school week. Where is the line drawn in the sand for that one?

Artie is right on. How can I go I'm in school trying to work with the kids who are actually in class.

Who is this really for?

I'd be very interested to hear what sort of accountability there is to parents in other big cities. Personally, I feel like if a parent can't get their kid to school, there should be rather severe penalty. I have a friend from New Orleans who talked about police picking up truant kids, bringing them to school, and fining the parents. I've taught in BCPSS for seven years, and have realized that behind every attendance problem, there is almost always lack of parental involvement, and, frankly, it's pretty infuriating.

I think knee-jerk reactions suggesting punishment are dangerous and would perpetrate a culture of compliance that dutifully hampers the BCPSS.

Punishments aren't working - it's like saying that "zero-tolerance" policing is a successful strategy. Sure it sounds good for a 30 second sound bite, but when we really look at data-driven analysis we see different trends.

Why not suggest a MASSIVE incentive program. You come to school 90% of the time - you get an exciting summer program that offers tangible job training or academic advancement. We publicize it like we would the release of a new movie and make a topic of general conversation in the city.

Before those "free market" types jump in - this is precisely the method used in the legal community. Base salary at BigLaw = $160,000. HOWEVER, you can earn up to $35,000 more through productivity measures. Sure you lose your job if you don't show up, but the incentives created by bonuses (intentionally) often lead to higher productivity - not massive amounts of people quitting their jobs.

I know the analogy is a bit strained, but it was the first that came to mind. Thoughts?

Punishments aren't working - it's like saying that "zero-tolerance" policing is a successful strategy. Sure it sounds good for a 30 second sound bite, but when we really look at data-driven analysis we see different trends.

What punishments are you referring to? Are there punishments for parents or students who don't show up to school? What data-driven analysis do you have to suggest that punishments/fines/holding parents accountable for getting their children to school is wholly unsuccessful? Should this idea be dismissed out of hand?

Although I like some things about your idea of a summer job incentive, I generally hate incentive programs for attendance. It should be expected that students are in school every day. It should be the law.

Bill,
I understand where you're coming from, but I doubt a child who misses more than 2/3 of the school year would be enticed by an "exciting summer program."