DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING TRUANT AND BEING CHRONICALLY ABSENT?
While chronic absenteeism measures TOTAL absences, including EXCUSED and UNEXCUSED absences, truancy measures ONLY UNEXCUSED absences. Your child can be chronically absent and NOT be truant! However, ANY absences can affect your child's learning.
Make sure that you get doctor or parent notes in when your child misses a day.
You are only allowed 6 parent notes a year, and please be aware that NOT every parent note will be considered an excused absence.
The ONLY valid excuses for absences are:
Illness (if over 2 days, a doctor’s note may be required)
Court Appearance
Death in the family
Religious holidays
Extenuating circumstances which are determined by the school administration
Research shows that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade. Building a habit of good attendance will carry over into post high school education and their attendance once they enter the workforce!
Be Present! Be Powerful!
LCPS Students talk about the importance of good attendance...
How You As a Family Member Can Help
Make School Attendance a TOP Priority
Check Your Child's Attendance
Parents can log into PowerSchool to check your child's attendance. Any parent/legal guardian can apply for access to our parent portal. Simply contact your school's guidance department to start the process.
Help Your Student Stay Engaged
Check out these handouts for families from AttendanceWorks.
Understand the LCPS School Calendar AND the LCPS Attendance Policy
In Virginia, ALL students aged 5 through 18 are required to attend school regularly. LCPS MUST record student attendance EVERY DAY that school is in session.
Did You Know?
Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available.
There is a correlation between poor school attendance and poor job attendance later in life!
Governor Youngkin Announces ALL IN VA Plan to Address COVID-19 Era Learning Loss and Absenteeism in Schools
