Queen Anne's County Public Schools (QACPS), one of the highest ranked school systems in the State, has asked Community Mediation Upper Shore (CMUS) to assist them in working with the most chronically absent students to help determine what the causes of their absenteeism is and identify what types of support they or their family might need to overcome their issues. Initially this program will focus on the Sudlersville Elementary and Middle schools as well as the county high school.
CMUS, in 2013-2014, played a significant role in helping Kent County schools achieve minimum State attendance standards. According to Superintendent Couch in a recent interview, this was the first time in its history these levels have been reached
Penni Walker Doyle, CMUS Executive Director, and Gordon English, CMUS Board Chairman, met with the QACPS Student Services staff prior to the start of the school year to outline the program, which will use a combination of Mediation sessions, interaction with school guidance counselors and involvement with other agencies as the situation warrants. They also attended the initial staff meeting of the elementary school educators to explain the program to them.
Following the meetings Mr. English said: “It’s so invigorating to be involved with a school system that truly cares so much for each individual student. Statistically this school system benefits little from improved attendance of a small number of students but, as we learned last year, students with severe attendance issues often have problems that extend beyond the school walls. These students want to go to school, and are often capable of good academic achievement, but due to situations beyond their control, have to deal with things that interfere with that. Once those are addressed, in the overwhelming majority of cases they achieve high attendance rates and good grades. It’s no surprise that the QAPS system is as good as it is. When the system as a whole cares about the success of every student, it can’t help but create a culture among the entire staff that reflects the same attitude, from the administrators to the classroom teachers. We at CMUS are honored to be part of their program.”
CMUS, in 2013-2014, played a significant role in helping Kent County schools achieve minimum State attendance standards. According to Superintendent Couch in a recent interview, this was the first time in its history these levels have been reached
Penni Walker Doyle, CMUS Executive Director, and Gordon English, CMUS Board Chairman, met with the QACPS Student Services staff prior to the start of the school year to outline the program, which will use a combination of Mediation sessions, interaction with school guidance counselors and involvement with other agencies as the situation warrants. They also attended the initial staff meeting of the elementary school educators to explain the program to them.
Following the meetings Mr. English said: “It’s so invigorating to be involved with a school system that truly cares so much for each individual student. Statistically this school system benefits little from improved attendance of a small number of students but, as we learned last year, students with severe attendance issues often have problems that extend beyond the school walls. These students want to go to school, and are often capable of good academic achievement, but due to situations beyond their control, have to deal with things that interfere with that. Once those are addressed, in the overwhelming majority of cases they achieve high attendance rates and good grades. It’s no surprise that the QAPS system is as good as it is. When the system as a whole cares about the success of every student, it can’t help but create a culture among the entire staff that reflects the same attitude, from the administrators to the classroom teachers. We at CMUS are honored to be part of their program.”
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