Check Your Answers
Statement #1 – FALSE
Attendance is less important during distance learning then during face-to-face learning.
Your child’s attendance is more important than ever! Due to the pandemic, decreased connectivity and increased closures have put incredible stress on everyone. By regularly attending distance learning classes, students establish much-needed routines and make connections with their peers and teachers. This allows students to remain social and intellectually engaged.
The GRPS Distance Learning Plan states:
“Attendance will be taken during synchronous learning periods in a similar manner to attendance procedures followed during face-to-face instruction. The district is seeking guidance from MDE to determine how attendance will be taken during asynchronous learning times.”
Therefore, it is very important that your child attends school during synchronous learning. Synchronous learning is the kind of learning that happens in real time. This means that you, your classmates, and your instructor interact in a specific virtual place, through a specific online medium, at a specific time. In other words, it’s not exactly anywhere, anyhow, anytime. Methods of synchronous online learning include video conferencing, teleconferencing, live chatting, and live-streaming lectures.
Statement #2 – FALSE
Grades will not matter during distance learning.
The above statement is incorrect. According to GRPS’ new distance learning plan, your child should expect “mandatory grading of assignments and assessments. Letter grades (A-E) on 1st MP report cards.”
Even though your child may have received a participation grade during distance learning in the spring 2020, he/she will receive grades this fall.
Attendance is mandatory and report card grades will reflect this.
Statement #3 – TRUE
A student who misses 10% of the school year (around 18 days) is considered “chronically absent.” Chronically absent students may earn lower test scores and display poor attendance and retention in later grades. Parents and caregivers play an important role in making attendance a priority.
Statement #4 – TRUE
Attendance is a shared responsibility between a student, the parent or caregiver, and the school community.
Parent and Caregivers play an important role in making school attendance a priority! If your child seems anxious about using the distance learning platform or has trouble adjusting to distance learning, please reach out to your child’s school. Principals, teachers, counselors, and other school personnel will happily support your child throughout the entire process.
Statement #5 – FALSE
Attendance only matters in the later grades. Pre-K and K are not important for academic success; they are more about play. Since my child is in a younger grade, missing a day of school has no negative impact on their education.
Every missed day of school is a missed opportunity to learn. Frequent absences, even in elementary school, can make your child fall behind in reading and math. Students with frequent absences are less likely to graduate high school.
Source: GRPS Strive for 5 Attendance Toolkit
