A return to in-class learning has prompted questions about tracking attendance.
One elementary teacher with the Grand Erie District School Board told The Brantford Expositor she was instructed to mark as present two students with confirmed COVID-19 cases because they “engaged in learning online.”
Another Grand Erie teacher said she had nine of 20 students in class but no absences were recorded.
“On paper, our attendance is better than it’s ever been, yet many classes have multiple absences,” said the teacher.
A third Grand Erie teacher said attendance records can be changed by the end of the day if a student signs onto the online system or turns in work.
Grand Erie spokesperson Dave Smouter said the board is tracking all absences, including students who are ill or isolating because of COVID. The information is available online at: absences.granderie.ca.
“If a parent calls to confirm their child is accessing online learning options, then regardless of why that child is at home, they will be marked present,” said Smouter, noting that the practice complies with Ministry of Education directives
While the ministry also has instructed schools to alert parents when absences are more than 30 per cent higher than a school’s normal baseline absence rate, Smouter said the board opted to simplify that by reporting overall absences.
Smouter said students in COVID isolation will be marked present if they’re online learning is confirmed by a parent.
The Grand Erie absence tracker is showing most schools with absences of students and staff of between 10 and 20 per cent.
Mike McDonald, director of education with the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, said his board is working to ensure its reporting is consistent with ministry guidelines.
“Our numbers represent the total of all of our students away from school for any reason, COVID-related or not, with one exception,” said McDonald.
“The ministry has instructed boards to report those students who have requested short-term remote learning to be reported separately. Since those students are continuing to engage in their learning, even though they are at home, they are marked present if they are online and accessing learning materials.”
McDonald said students who don’t sign in or engage in learning throughout the day are marked absent.
The Catholic board’s absence figures can be accessed at www.bhncdsb.ca/page/covid-19-reporting.
Next week, the ministry will begin to post school attendance, using the categories of total students, remote learners and in-person absences.
One teacher told The Expositor that students quickly “caught on” that they can be marked present while staying home.
“Lots of kids taking advantage of it,” the teacher said.
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