by Bryan Kim ‘23

As students and teachers have adjusted to in-person learning during an unpredictable pandemic, unexcused absences and tardiness has been an issue. Procedures such as hall sweeps were briefly introduced in November to address the problem.

However, because of the pandemic and following virtual learning for most of last year, many attendance policies used in past school years to monitor absences and tardiness are no longer in place.
For students who are excessively absent or tardy, the administration and counseling team create a plan to possibly conduct a home visit, set up a Zoom call or phone call, and send a letter home. An attendance plan will then be put in place for those students, such as check-ins by the counselor to see if students are attending school.

“As a county and school, we still make contact with the family, conduct home visits if necessary, and send letters,” said Principal Tim Britton. “However, the letters are not punitive but more about trying to make contact and check for personal health.”

Certain circumstances will require different approaches to solve the issue. “Sometimes it’s about transportation and we work with the county to see if we can support transportation for the student. If the student is still unable or unwilling to attend, then we look into alternative school placements outside of Sherwood,” explained Britton.

Attendance is taken by teachers and recorded in Synergy. This data can be seen by parents through ParentVue, the parent portal. When a student is marked absent, an automated ConnectEd call alerts the parent/guardian that the student is absent. This allows for quick intervention and escalation if needed.
Prior to the pandemic, Sherwood and high schools throughout MCPS would automatically generate letters to parents if their child has three and then five unexcused absences. Britton stated that the county has eased its attendance policies due to students and/or family members becoming infected with Covid-19 or having other illnesses or emergencies arise.

Furthermore, in past school years, MCPS had a policy that permitted schools to give a student an E3, a failing semester grade, to students who had more than five unexcused absences and who didn’t follow an intervention contract with the school.

Now, this is no longer in effect; however, students conceivably may still fail courses if they are not attending because of missing work and assignments. In order for an absence to be considered excused, a written explanation must be submitted by either an eligible student or parent/guardian. Eligible students are defined by students who have reached the age of 18.

Although Sherwood has only conducted one hall sweep since November 10, sweeps will resume after the break, according to Britton. “It’s everyone’s responsibility from the teacher, attendance secretary, counselor, admin, and pupil personnel worker,” stated Britton about keeping students in the classroom.