Whitney Young also has an academic center program. I'm fairly certain that the vast majority of students that have been afflicted with "senioritis" are students that graduated from this program. Kids that graduate out of this particular program can receive high school credits even while they are in 7th and 8th grade. As a result they often have attained the necessary requirements for graduation by the time they become Seniors. There really isn't an incentive for them to attend school and thus MANY simply attend whenever they feel like it. What she could and should do is simply allow them to graduate in Feb and march in June if they so desire. She makes the call as the principal. I'm sure she has refused to do that (probably for funding purposes).

I have a very good idea the name of the person that implemented this policy. I doubt that it was Joyce Kenner. Schools are graded partially on their attendance and if they fall below 95% then it effects their ratings. This is another example where an overreliance on statistics can be detrimental. Whitney Young doesn't need for 95% of its kids to attend in order to be thought of as a good school.

Whitney Young also has an academic center program. I'm fairly certain that the vast majority of students that have been afflicted with "senioritis" are students that graduated from this program. Kids that graduate out of this particular program can receive high school credits even while they are in 7th and 8th grade. As a result they often have attained the necessary requirements for graduation by the time they become Seniors. There really isn't an incentive for them to attend school and thus MANY simply attend whenever they feel like it. What she could and should do is simply allow them to graduate in Feb and march in June if they so desire. She makes the call as the principal. I'm sure she has refused to do that (probably for funding purposes).

At these schools the AC kids are largely in AP or on college campus for classes by their junior years. I was amused by how many of my sons' classmates spent more time on HS campus, eating or waiting on practice to begin as opposed to in classes. The attendance rule was in place, but it seemed more like a formality than anything else. It was treated with a wink and a nod, but most of the Young parents are probably too daft (or anal) to treat it similarly.

Now they call home or text if you miss any class and missing a few classes adds up to missing a full day of school.

They've been doing that for at least the last eight years for high schools.

I wasn't aware it had been going on that long. That would have sucked for me.

One thing I am thankful for is our school has held out over holding Prom the Friday before graduation. A lot of schools around us do this to keep the seniors in line. Problem is this makes athletes have to chose between prom and attending sectionals or state in track. It also leads to baseball and softball teams having a 10am playoff game the night after Prom.

Both. 8 unexcused is 7 too many.

This is idiotic across the board.

That's what makes the parents reactions all the more laughable. But then you realize that this is the school that dropped football due to parent pressure. And I'm sure they reveled in the attention they got then. And keep going for more.

Played a tennis tournament morning after prom. I believe I had 2 hours of sleep, which was about equal to what my doubles partner had. Went 3-0 winning all matches in straight sets while taking naps between matches, it sure I ever played better. I’d die trying that today.

Outside of guns/hunting PA is anything but.

Be that as it may, why are you of all people advocating for more government involvement?

Brooks and others have similar Academic Centers and somehow parents aren't bitching their kids coming to school.

This is going to reach a head pretty soon.

I’m not. I explained the system here. You need a break.

At these schools the AC kids are largely in AP or on college campus for classes by their junior years. I was amused by how many of my sons' classmates spent more time on HS campus, eating or waiting on practice to begin as opposed to in classes. The attendance rule was in place, but it seemed more like a formality than anything else. It was treated with a wink and a nod, but most of the Young parents are probably too daft (or anal) to treat it similarly.

This is going to reach a head pretty soon.

Do they differentiate between excused and unexcused absences or are they just saying eight absences total?

This is going to reach a head pretty soon.

Do high schools still get some of their state funding based on total number of student-days of actual attendance? That's how it used to be back in the day, so my K-8 school district was always quick with the trigger for closing school for bad weather.

Yes it is.

When this is all over, which is not going to be for a while, Trump will be re-elected President.

Do they differentiate between excused and unexcused absences or are they just saying eight absences total?

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

They differentiate. No school can punish a kid for an excused absence. They used to have a rule that as long as a kid provided a note then the absence was excused. That particular rule was abused to the point that it became a joke. Kids would bring a note whenever they were absent simply as a means of circumventing classwork.

holy crap that's a lot of days missed. How do the parents not care?

There is not a damned thing wrong with people who are bull shitters.