When a student reaches five (5) unexcused absences during the school year he or she is considered truant. Truancy procedures can be found below:
Truant with 5 Unexcused Absences
When a student reaches five (5) unexcused absences during the school year he or she is considered truant. At the fifth unexcused absence, a 5 Day Letter is mailed to the parent/guardian along with a printed copy of the student’s attendance record for the school year. The school administrator, or his/her designee (i.e., often the attendance clerk), will conduct the 5 Day Conference with both the parent/guardian and the student; he/she will make reasonable efforts to obtain an explanation for the student’s nonattendance. An Attendance Plan will be developed with the parent/guardian and student during the conference to resolve attendance issues. All future student absences will require the parent to turn in a note from a professional service provider (e.g., doctor, dentist, mental health care provider).
Truant with 7 Unexcused Absences
The seventh unexcused absence is defined in the Code of Virginia as, “More than one additional day after the Five Day Conference.” If the student is absent for more than one additional day after direct contact with the student’s parent and school personnel have received no indication that the student’s parent is aware of and supports the absence, the school principal or principal’s designee shall refer the student to the LCS Inter-agency Truancy Review Team for a conference. Such conference may include the Student Support Specialist and other community service providers to resolve issues related to the student’s nonattendance. The conference shall be held no later than 10 school days after the tenth absence, regardless of whether the student's parent approves of the conference. The Inter-agency Truancy Review Team shall monitor the student’s attendance and may meet again as necessary to address concerns and plan additional interventions if attendance does not improve.
The City Attorney Letter will be mailed to the parent/guardian when the Truancy Department invites the family to the Interagency Truancy Review Team Meeting. In circumstances in which the parent is intentionally noncompliant with compulsory attendance requirements or the student is resisting parental efforts to comply with compulsory attendance requirements, the principal or principal’s designee shall make a referral to the Student Support Specialist. The Student Support Specialist shall schedule a conference with the student and student’s parent within 10 school days. Continued nonattendance may result in the Student Support Specialist (1) filing a complaint with the Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court alleging the pupil is a Child in Need of Supervision as defined in VA. Code § 16.1-228 or (2) instituting proceedings against the parent pursuant to VA Code § 18.2-371 or § 22.1-262. In filing a complaint against the student, the Student Support Specialist shall provide written documentation of the efforts to comply with the provisions of this policy. In the event that both parents have been awarded joint physical custody, pursuant to VA Code § 20-124.2, and the school has received notice of such order, both parents shall be notified at the last known addresses of the parents.
Truant with 10+ Unexcused Absences
If the Interagency Truancy Review Team (ITRT) interventions are not effective and the student continues to accumulate unexcused days from school, a complaint may be filed with the Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court alleging the child is a Child in Need of Supervision pursuant to § 22.1-267 (Proceedings against habitually absent child) of the Code of Virginia.
10 Excused or Unexcused Absences
Upon the tenth day of any absence, either excused or unexcused (i.e., with the exceptions of documented five to ten day medical illness, vacation requests where the guardian followed our policy, and suspension) a 10 Day Letter is mailed to the parent/guardian along with a printed copy of the student’s attendance record for the school year. 10 days of school absence is considered excessive. The school administrator, or his/her designee (i.e., often the attendance clerk), will conduct the 10 Day Excessive Absence Attendance Plan and Conference with both the parent/guardian and the student. He/she will make reasonable efforts to obtain an explanation for the student nonattendance. An Attendance Plan will be developed with the parent/guardian and student during the conference to resolve attendance issues.
11–14+ Excused or Unexcused Absences
Students who accrue 11 or more excused or unexcused absences are the most likely to become chronically absent from school. While all absenteeism affects academic success, chronic absenteeism often puts students at serious risk of falling behind in school.
15 Consecutive Absences
Pursuant to 8VAC20-110-130 (When pupil dropped from roll) of the Administrative Code of Virginia, any student who has accumulated 15 consecutive absences (i.e., excused or unexcused) from school shall be dropped from the roll and marked “Withdrawn” in Infinite Campus. If the student does not re-enroll within three school days, the attendance clerk will notify the Student Support Specialist. The Student Support Specialist will then mail a Compulsory Enrollment Letter to the parent or guardian of the student. This letter outlines legal consequences of continued nonenrollment.