"MCPS Implements Attendance Action Plan to Revamp Grading Policies"
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has unveiled an action plan to address high rates of chronic absenteeism among students. The plan includes school-specific strategies and a system-wide promotional campaign. While it does not immediately change grading or attendance policies, they will be reevaluated. Attendance rates have doubled since the return to in-person learning, with one in three students identified as chronically absent. The plan includes a root cause analysis, school-based improvement measures, and a district-wide attendance promotion campaign. Existing grading and attendance policies, including the controversial "50% rule," will be evaluated. Some parents are skeptical about the effectiveness of the plan.