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Attendance Resources
Why Attendance Matters
Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. Children who do not regularly attend school lose fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build good attendance habits that will carry them through college and careers. Research has shown that students who were chronically absent beginning in kindergarten and as early as pre kindergarten were far less likely to read proficiently by the end of third grade. Read more from the U.S. Department of Education. Read more from the U.S. Department of Education.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent or more of the academic year for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Students who are chronically absent have a higher risk for lower test scores, dropping out of school, and being retained in later grades. Read more from the Virginia Department of Education and AttendanceWorks.
What LCPS is Doing about Attendance
LCPS is very focused on improving student attendance. To help support improving school attendance, the Loudoun County School Board recently approved revisions to the policy that governs school attendance. This policy outlines what types of absences are categorized as excused or unexcused absences. The policy also provides guidance on make-up work following an absence as well as specific actions school administrators should take if a student demonstrates a pattern of absenteeism. The full policy – Policy 8140, Student Attendance Requirements and Procedures – is posted on BoardDocs. Some changes to this policy include:
Absences due to family trips or vacations are considered unexcused absences unless they are due to family emergencies or observations of religious holidays. Parents/guardians are advised to schedule such trips during school holidays.
The principal or the principal’s designee is no longer required to determine whether a student’s absence is excused or unexcused. That determination is outlined by the policy.
Excused absences due to personal illness have been expanded to include mental health issues or substance abuse-related illnesses. Principals may require medical documentation to support these absences.
This policy also provides guidance on make-up work following an absence as well as specific actions school administrators should take if a student demonstrates a pattern of absenteeism.
This policy revision was adopted on Oct. 24, 2023, and applies to all LCPS students. If you have questions about this policy, please speak with your school’s principals or contact the Department of Student Services.
Did you Know?
Office of Student Assistance Services Attendance Services/Policy/Regulation
Attendance Services provides direct support to schools to maintain a high standard of attendance within Loudoun County. Attendance Officers are authorized and required to investigate matters pertaining to the attendance of school-aged children within Loudoun County. Attendance Officers deal with complaints in a timely manner to ensure the opportunity for student success and to meet legal requirements.
Each school is assigned an Attendance Officers who work with students, parents/guardians, and school officials to encourage good school attendance and promote academic success. Attendance Officers are authorized to file petitions with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court when a parent/guardian and/or student are found not to be in compliance with the Compulsory Attendance Law.
School Attendance is Required by Law
Regular school attendance is essential if students are to benefit fully from the educational opportunities provided to them. Every child between the ages of 5-18 is required to attend school (public or private), be approved for religious exemption, or receive home instruction, according to the Code of Virginia, §22.1-254. If a parent/guardian believes a child is not ready, the requirements of this section may be alternatively satisfied by sending the child to any public educational pre-kindergarten program, including a Head Start program, or in a private, denominational, or parochial educational pre-kindergarten program. If a parent/guardian wishes to provide home instruction in lieu of school attendance, the parent/guardian must annually notify the Division Superintendent or designee in August of this intention and must provide evidence of having met the requirements of state law and a description of the curriculum to be followed for the coming year. In 2018, the Code of Virginia Section 22.1-258, changed the minimum requirements for the attendance referral process. Schools are required to develop and implement a plan to include school-based interventions and hold a face-to-face conference prior to submitting a referral to the Attendance Officer.