TRUANCY

A reasonable effort will be made to contact a parent/guardian of each absent student every day, and to obtain an explanation for the student’s absence, where there is no indication that the student’s parent is aware of and supports the absence. 

The following procedures apply when a student fails to report to school for scheduled school days: 

1.             After a total of five (5) scheduled school days missed, when there is no indication that the student’s parent is aware of and supports the absences, the principal or the principal’s designee will make a reasonable effort to ensure that direct contact is made with the parent to obtain an explanation for the pupil’s absence and to explain to the parent consequences of continued non-attendance.  The principal or the principal’s designee, the pupil, and the pupil’s parent will develop a plan to resolve the pupil’s non-attendance.  The plan must include documentation of the reasons for the pupil’s non-attendance.

2.             If the pupil is absent a sixth day, after direct contact with the pupil’s parent if the principal or the principal’s designee has received no indication that the pupil’s parent is aware of and supports the pupil’s absence, the principal or the principal’s designee shall schedule a conference within ten (10) school days with the pupil, his parent, and school personnel.  At the conference, the pupil, his/her parent, and school personnel, shall meet to resolve issues relating to the pupil’s non-attendance.  Other community service providers may also be included in the conference. 

3.             Upon the next absence after the conference without indication that the pupil’s parent is aware of and supports the pupil’s absence, the principal or the principal’s designee shall notify the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee, who shall enforce the compulsory attendance rolls by either or both of the following: 

A.             Filing a complaint with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court alleging that the pupil is a child in need of supervision as defined in Section 16.1-228. 

B.            Instituting proceedings against the parents pursuant to Section 18.2-371 or Section 22.1-262.  In filing a complaint against the parents, the Superintendent’s designee shall provide written documentation of the efforts already undertaken to resolve the pupil’s absence.  If the student’s parents have joint physical custody of the student and the school has notice of the custody arrangement, then both parents shall be notified at their last known addresses. 

It is expected that parents will cooperate with school officials to remedy the student’s attendance problem.  When direct contact with the parent cannot be made, despite reasonable efforts, or when parents otherwise fail to cooperate in remedying the student’s attendance problem, the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee may seek immediate compliance with compulsory school attendance laws.  The Superintendent’s designee, with the knowledge and approval of the Superintendent, shall institute proceedings against any parent who fails to comply with the requirements of the law relating to compulsory attendance, the Superintendent’s designee shall document the school division’s compliance with procedures for enforcing compulsory attendance.