2017-2018 Student Handbook

ATTENDANCE (JC, JEA, JEB, JEC, JED, JED-R, JEG) Code of Virginia 22.1-254, 22.1-258

I. Code of Virginia 22.1-258 Whenever any pupil fails to report to school for a total of five (5) scheduled school days for the school year and no indication has been received by school personnel that the pupil’s parent is aware of and supports the pupil’s absences and a reasonable effort to notify the parent has failed, the school principal or his/her designee shall make a reasonable effort to ensure that direct contact is made with the parent, either in person or through telephone conversation, by the attendance officer to obtain an explanation for the pupil’s absence and to explain to the parent the consequences f continued nonattendance. The attendance officer, the pupil, and the pupil’s parent shall jointly develop a plan to resolve the pupil’s nonattendance. Such plan shall include documentation of the reasons for the pupil’s nonattendance. If the pupil is absent an additional day after direct contact with the pupil’s parent and the attendance offer has received no indication that the pupil’s parent is aware of and supports the pupil’s absence, the attendance officer shall schedule a conference within ten (10) school days with the pupil, his parent, and school personnel, which conference may include other community service providers to resolve issues related to the pupil’s nonattendance. The conference shall be held no later than fifteen school days after the sixth absence. Upon the next absence by such pupil without indication to the attendance officer that the pupil’s parent is aware of and supports the pupil’s absence, the school principal or his/her designee shall notify the attendance officer who shall enforce the provisions of the Code of Virginia, either one or both of the following: *Filing a complaint with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court alleging the pupil is a Child in Need of Supervision (CHINS) as defined in the Code of Virginia 16.1-228 OR *Instituting proceedings against the parents pursuant to the Code of Virginia 18.2-371 or 22.1-262. II. General Statements Students, and the parent, guardian or other person having control of the school age child will comply with the state laws on compulsory school attendance. A copy of the Compulsory Attendance Law is found in the General Information Section of this handbook. The importance of the Compulsory Attendance Regulation is that achievement is partially a function of regular school attendance. Those students in grades K-7 who do not attend a minimum of 160 days of the prescribed 180 day school term under the regular daily schedule or 82 days of the prescribed 90 day school term under the block schedule in grades 8-12, in a public school and/or who have not pursued a study program at home by formal arrangement as set forth by the superintendent or his/her designee(s), will not receive academic credit for passing the year's work. The superintendent or his/her designee(s) may waive this requirement in special cases where extenuating circumstances exist and the ability and effort on the part of the student merit consideration. Such cases shall be approved by the school Attendance Review Panel to include the IEP team where appropriate prior to recommendation for waiver of the attendance requirement. Appeals for general education students may be made to the principal and for IDEA eligible student’s appeals may be made to the Special Education Director or his/her designee. (See page 14 Item V III-C) III. Monitoring Absences A. Compulsory School Attendance Laws: The system wide policy regarding the monitoring of student absences shall be as follows: 1. School personnel shall send an automated phone call on each day of absence. 2. After three days/class periods absent per school term, students will receive a written notification from school personnel. Attendance concerns will be discussed at the parent/teacher conference at the end of the grading period. 3. Parent/guardian will be notified by the school’s letter when a student has accumulated five total days of absence. 4. If no indication has been received by school personnel that the student’s parent/guardian is aware of the student’s absence, then a reasonable effort shall be made by this school upon the fifth absence to have direct contact with the parent in person or by telephone. This conference will seek to obtain an explanation for the absences, explain the consequences of continued non-attendance, and develop a plan to resolve the problem.

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