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Einstein, Gaithersburg and Kennedy highlighted as models for reducing chronic absenteeism
Summary
MCPS staff and council members credited school‑level strategies—recognition and incentives, trusted‑adult assignments and cluster coordination—for double‑digit and single‑digit drops in chronic absenteeism at Albert Einstein High, Gaithersburg Middle and Kennedy High School.
Committee members and MCPS staff showcased several school‑level success stories they say drove meaningful drops in chronic absenteeism, offering potential blueprints for replication across clusters.
MCPS staff described Albert Einstein High School’s strategy of reframing attendance through recognition incentives and targeted trusted‑adult assignments; Peter said Einstein recorded nearly an 11% decrease in chronic absenteeism year‑to‑year. Gaithersburg Middle School similarly reduced chronic absenteeism by almost 8% after principals and staff leaned into community messaging and consistent outreach. At Kennedy High School, members praised leadership changes and advisory‑period reforms that strengthened student‑teacher relationships and boosted attendance in months following implementation.
"He has made it a point to flip the script and really, not look at it as a negative, but look at it as a positive," an MCPS speaker said of a principal’s recognition program at Einstein. Staff recommended cluster meetings to share approaches, clear role definitions for cross‑functional teams, and fidelity in implementation—things they said are essential for scaling successful interventions.
