Our Report to The School Board

Report to the School Board re: Attendance Policy

January 11, 2010

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today about this important issue.

Dr. Lackey states in his letter to the Citizens of Franklin County, “Our motto this year will be  EVERY CHILD, EVERY CHANCE, EVERY DAY.” He also asks us to, “Join me in proving…that we will do whatever is required to assure the best education for our students.”

I realize that you are not paid enough to spend a lot of time researching all the topics brought to your attention.  Therefore, I have spent literally 100’s of hours doing it for you.  The most important discovery was found in the Code of VA.

Dr. Lackey has informed us and maybe you that Virginia requires the students miss no more than 20 days of school per year. I have literally scoured the internet for any proof of this.  I am providing you with what the Code of VA says.  In addition, I am providing you with the attendance policies of other VA schools from which you can verify that our county’s policy can be significantly improved.

As you peruse them, you will see that most schools follow the Code of Virginia in allowing for more excused absences and, for the few that require it, they make decisions for that student’s particular situation. Most schools have to put forth very little effort related to absences until a student misses 5 days of which the parent is unaware, and I quote from the Code, “Whenever any pupil fails to report to school for a total of five 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 absence.”

Our High School policy has become far more intrusive than any I could find in the hundreds of Googled pages related to VA school attendance.

After discussing the current attendance policy with Dr. Lackey and Keith Pennington this is what they confirmed to be true. Here are a few instances in which the policy hurts the student.

When the current first or second highest ranked student of the 2010 graduating class missed six days because of illness he became the victim of the policy. He had to go to Saturday school or get F’s in each of his classes. Is this beneficial? Is it right? This student plans to represent Franklin County at Harvard University. This student has blessed Franklin County with positive recognition and wonderful test scores and yet he is to be treated like this?

Another student was hurt by the attendance policy. She missed several days because of serious illness and went to the required Saturday School. Then at the end of the term she injured her finger and went to the emergency room.  Since she did not get out until 2 am, she slept in for a couple of hours.  She missed 2 classes the next morning and was not notified of the requirement to go to an additional day of Sat. school.  She had a 105 average in her Environmental class and a B in the other class. The policy resulted in her receiving an F in each of the classes!  She had to take them during summer school even though it was obvious that she had mastered the material. Then, in addition, since the school could not get everything scheduled properly, they have demeaned her and considered her a Junior instead of a Senior this year.  Only recently have they said that she might be able to go to the Senior Prom but as it stands, she will not graduated with her class just because she missed 2 hours of school. How has the helped the student?  How has this helped the school? How has this helped the district?  For each student this sort of thing has happened to , it has affected their self-esteem and in some cases has spiraled them downward with grades and attendance since there was nothing they could do. The concept of failing a student solely based on lack of Butt time and not performance is unacceptable.

The business community is being informed of this policy and how it teaches the student that showing up is all that matters, not performance. It is as if a school administrator should be docked their pay for the entire quarter because they had to take their Mother to the hospital for a day after already missing a few. Has that ever happened to you or anyone else you know in the workplace? How much stress do you think it would add to your life if you had to live with that possibility each day of your work life? Is it fair to put that stress on our students and their families? Is it the right way to treat anyone?

The policy has failed every student that suffers a 10 day suspension for any reason if it fell in the same nine week period. The very same student would have received the grades they deserved if only it had happened over 2 quarters. All the other VA school handbooks I could find consider suspension an excused absence with no further consequence.

Here is the summary of what I determined from reading the other VA High School’s handbooks.

Excused absences are excused- no consequences except that the student supply a note and make up the work on a timely basis.

Excused absences include:

• Illness
• Pre-arranged appointments with court, social services or other state agencies
• Family Death or Emergency
• Religious Observances
• Suspensions or Exclusions from school
• Exceptional Circumstances- the principal may approve prearranged absences for situations in which an exemption from attendance appears to be in the best interest of the student and his or her family.

Isn’t the purpose of our school system to enrich the lives of our students? Doesn’t Dr. Lackey say in his letter, EVERY CHILD, EVERY CHANCE, EVERY DAY?  With that statement, he left no room for the hurtful effects of our school attendance policy. That should have applied to every one of the children mentioned above.

Is it not time to revamp the policy so as to allow Dr. Lackey to keep his word?

Virginia School Attendance Policy

22.1-254

G. Within one calendar month of the opening of school, each school board shall send to the parents or guardian of each student enrolled in the division a copy of the compulsory school attendance law and the enforcement procedures and policies established by the school board.

H. The provisions of this article shall not apply to:

1. Children suffering from contagious or infectious diseases while suffering from such diseases;

§ 22.1-258

Whenever any pupil fails to report to school for a total of five 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 absence, and a reasonable effort to notify the parent has failed, the school principal or his 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 of 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 officer 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 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 designee shall notify the attendance officer or the division superintendent, as the case may be, who shall enforce the provisions of this article by either or both of the following: (i) filing a complaint with the juvenile and domestic relations court alleging the pupil is a child in need of supervision as defined in § 16.1-228 or (ii) instituting proceedings against the parent pursuant to § 18.2-371 or § 22.1-262. In filing a complaint against the student, the attendance officer shall provide written documentation of the efforts to comply with the provisions of this section. In the event that both parents have been awarded joint physical custody pursuant to § 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.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit in any way the authority of any attendance officer or division superintendent to seek immediate compliance with the compulsory school attendance law as set forth in this article.

Attendance officers, other school personnel or volunteers organized by the school administration for this purpose shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability in connection with the notice to parents of a pupil’s absence or failure to give such notice as required by this section.

FRANKLIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL POLICY:

This is the official Franklin County High School Attendance Policy as posted on their website. It does not reflect the current policy implemented back on the first day of school on August 19th. According to the Virginia School Policy set by the state of Virginia, this means that the school system is out of compliance with the state of Virginia School Policy regarding notifications to the public.  See the letters below this policy statement which reflect the  new policy.

4. High School
The attendance policy at Franklin County High School will be followed. It is imperative for students to attend school. If a student is absent, it becomes the student’s responsibility to initiate contact with the teacher(s) to schedule make-up work.

a. A parent is notified by the “Eagle Hotline” (FCHS Phone Master System) when a student is absent.
b. On the fifth day of absence from one (1) or more classes, the parent is notified in writing. When the tenth day is missed, the parent is notified and required to come in for a conference.
c. When a student misses the eleventh day or any days thereafter through thirteen days, the student must attend Make-up School or lose credit for the semester.
d. If a student misses the fourteenth day, parents are notified that the student has failed the course(s) for the semester.

Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case review of the nature of a student’s absences with parents, administrators, and central office personnel.

This is per letter dated Oct. 14, 2009 from Mr. Crutchfield, Assoc. Principal

“Dear Parent//Guardian:

Our attendance records indicate that your child has been absent from one or more classes for six (6) or more times this nine weeks.

Students who miss more than five days of class per nine weeks will be assigned to attend a Saturday School session on the sixth and seventh day of absence from class.  Failure to attend the required number of Saturday School sessions will result in the student not receiving credit in the class for the nine weeks.  Students who miss more than fourteen times per semester and have attended the assigned Saturday School sessions may apply for  an attendance waiver in order to receive full credit for the class.  Students who fail to attend the assigned Saturday School sessions and/or apply for an attendance waiver will not receive credit for the course in which they are enrolled.

If a student misses more than fourteen times from one or more classes, he/she loses credit.  Under some circumstances credit may be restored if the student contacts Mrs. Grantham in the Law Office and complies with the following guidelines:

1) The student must attend four make-up sessions;

2) The student must complete and absence waiver request form;

3) The student must supply documentation to the school administration from a medical professional or an officer of the courts for absences.”

What Others Are Doing

Other counties in Virginia include other excusable absences and /or allow consequences to be determined on an individual basis:  (mainly per boarddocs.com)

Roanoke County- no requirement except that work be made up.

Roanoke City- “Students, upon returning to school, must bring a valid note stating the reason for absence. Unexcused absences shall be handled according to regulations issued by the superintendent.”

Corrective Actions:  Corrective actions for each offense are based on the severity and particulars of each individual case and situation.  The list of corrective actions has been provided to assist administrators in selecting an appropriate combination of consequences and is not intended as a step -by-step process to be followed for each case.

Loudon County

Trips and activities that enhance or extend the student’ education, when approved in advance by the principal.

Hampton City-

·        Fifteen (15) or more unexcused absences in a school year may result in retention.

·        Fifteen (15) consecutive days of unverified absences in a school year will result in the student being withdrawn from the attendance roll in accordance with state regulations.

Newport News:  I have provided you with their attendance policy.

(If you look at Newport News’ attendance policy in 1997 you will see that it was more restrictive than now and that surveys were requested and completed and now the policy is as represented above.)

boarddocs Newport news:  http://www.boarddocs.com/vsba/nnps/Board.nsf/9735ee562d84fea785256d7400548647/5e77087ad7876e2e85256fa1005f769d?OpenDocument

Fairfax County- This policy supersedes Policy 2232.2.

III. ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
Every student must attend school during prescribed hours.

A. Excused Absences
An excused absence is one for which parents or guardians have prior knowledge,
consent, and/or legitimate reason. Legitimate reasons may include: illness of the
student, death in the family, doctor or dental appointment, observance of a religious
holiday, suspension except for certain violations as provided in the current version of
Regulation 2601, Student Responsibilities and Rights, or another reason acceptable
to the principal or his or her designee. The principal or his or her designee
determines whether or not absences will be excused and may require a physician’s
note in cases of chronic or long-term illness. Parents or guardians and students are
encouraged to prearrange excused absences when possible.

B. Unexcused Absences
An unexcused absence is one for which the parent or guardian does not have prior
knowledge, consent, and/or legitimate reason

When students are absent without prior communication between the parent or
guardian and the school, school personnel will notify the parent or guardian by phone
or electronic communication and take appropriate action based on the individual.

Bristol Virginia Public Schools

Activity Days (ACT) will be granted to students who have outstanding attendance and passing grades. The ACT days may include field trips, DARE Day…. . Students who have failing grades in any subject and/or those who have missed more than 10 days in any class may appeal to the administration to be granted permission for ACT days.

Seniors may exempt the exam in any course in the second semester in which they have an A or B and no more than five (5) excused absences; no unexcused absences, A senior could exempt all second semester exams under this provision. (other than SOL)

2. Students who earn a passing score (400 +) on Standards of Learning End-of- Course exams may exempt the regular exam for that class.

Five PAR days are allowed for the entire school year. Parent days do not begin anew for senior exam exemptions for second semester.

BEARCAT BENEFIT CARDS – An ORANGE CARD will be awarded to those students with a G.P.A. of 3.8 or above, no more than 5 class absences, no unexcused class absences or

unexcused tardies, no financial obligations to the school, and no days of Extended School Detention, In-School-Suspension or OSS for each semester. Benefits include:

1. one day (prearranged) for independent study;

2. free admission to all VHS activities (Some dances excluded);

3. free admission to all VHS home athletic events except some tournaments;

4. $5.00 discount on yearbook;

5. exemption from two final exams of student’s choice. This exemption applies to students with six or more credits; students with fewer than six credits will be exempt from one exam.

A GRAY CARD – will be awarded to those students with a G.P.A. of 3.50-3.79, no more than three class absences, no unexcused class absences or unexcused tardies, no financial obligations to the school, and no days of Extended School Detention, In-School Suspension, or OSS for each semester. Benefits include:

1. free admission to five VHS home athletic events (some tournaments excluded);

2. free admission to three school day events and free admission to three dances (some dances excluded); and

3.exemption from one final exam of the student’s choice.

They have additional reward “cards”, but you can get the idea.

Pound High School  Saturday School Guidelines

1. Each classroom teacher will need to provide classroom work for each student and give the work to the Saturday schoolteacher by noon on Friday before the Saturday school. In addition, the work should include SOL review materials. Teachers should provide enough work for the four-hour Saturday school.
2. Unless approved by the building principal, Saturday school excused absences include:
1. Death in the immediate family,
2. Hospitalization, and
3. Weather
4. Any other excused absences must be approved by the principal.