The Actual Number Of Students Who Failed Due To The Attendance Policy
April 5, 2010 by Brian
Filed under Posts About The Franklin County Attendance Policy
Dr. Lackey continues to claim that we are distributing “false and misleading information” about the attendance policy. He still tells concerned parents, the media and elected officials that only one or two people have been negatively affected and that we are the only ones complaining about the policy.
So, we asked for the raw data on the actual numbers of students affected by the policy. Here is the actual graph sent to us by Keith Pennington, Director of K-12 Education.
And here is what Mr. Pennington explained about the graph.
CLICK the graph for a larger view.
44 – the number of students who failed one or more classes for the semester due solely to attendance.
It is possible that all the absences for some students were excused but they did not go to Saturday School.
This number does not include the students who will receive a passing grade on their transcripts that is much lower than it would have been without an F averaged in for one of the 9 week periods. (An F averaged with an A will result in about a C for the semester).
The 9 week data was requested but he said that it is not available.
38 – the number of students who passed for Semester Retained Credit – this number includes those who had attendance issues (too many days missed and/or did not go to Saturday school) in one of the 9 week periods and received a 69 or lower in one 9 week period but passed the other 9 weeks and therefore passed for the semester.
122 – the number of students who completed requirements. These students missed too many days excused and unexcused but went to Saturday School (6 or 7 days or more if they had official excuses). Most of these went to Saturday School before the 9 weeks ended and therefore did not receive an F on their report card. 24 did receive the F’s and had to go through the waiver process.
7 – At time this chart was created they did not know where these children would end up in the graph.
38 – Prior notice exceptions – most of these were not required to go to Saturday School because they had such excuses as absences related to extended illnesses or hospital stays. Some examples were: car accident, complications with diabetes, kidney stone, mono, 5 days of absence in a row with the flu, death in the family, court order, and one that had to get special permission- a father was in from Iraq for a short stay.
249 – Subtotal of those negatively affected by the attendance policy.
46 – Failed academically – many others failed but these were the students who also had attendance problems.
295 – The total number of children specifically affected by the attendance policy. (Remember this is just the first semester numbers!)
Result: more that 10% of the entire student body is negatively affected by the attendance policy. Significantly more than the one or two people that Dr. Lackey continues to claim.
The school administration and Board have said they will make changes during the summer. This isn’t good enough.
I am still pursuing resolution now for those students who have been negatively affected, mostly for the 82 (44 + 38) students who received lower grades just based on attendance. I am requesting that each of those situations be individually reviewed now because hurting their applications for getting into colleges, for receiving scholarships, for getting into special programs or higher level classes and financial aid.
I think they should say it affects all students. My child goes to school sick because I cannot afford to pay for Saturday school and have no way to get them there. I also know other parents that do the same thing.
I read about this situation in the Roanoke Times. Unfortunately, I am not shocked.
This policy is completely illogical. It could be possibly illegal and/or unconstitutional.
From the point of being unconstitutional, the state is to provide an education to the children of Virginia. By suspending the children from school for attendance, they are failing in their constitutional obligation. There can be no argument that a child is disrupting the school or interfering with the education of the other students. Suspension for 10 days is contraindicated if the goal is to attend and educate.
This contradiction is where the policy becomes illogical. If attendance is required in order to educate, then failure to attend would work against the goal. If the school system says a child must attend and then bans attendance, then they are working against the intended outcome. If they fear that children will not come to school without an attendance policy, do they not give the offending party exactly what they desire?
Although I am confident that the original intention of this policy was to promote attendance, the school board has failed miserably and should rectify the situation immediately. Upon refusing to do so, all parents should register to vote, do so, and remove these persons from their current position. I don’t believe WE should wait for terms to expire. If we expect immediate reaction from them, we should require immediate action from those that oppose them.
In these current economic times, the school board cannot possibly justify the expense of Saturday school. The cost of $20 per Saturday class for the “few” students affected cannot fully cover the expense of the class (staff, materials, and facilities). I cannot imagine that the education of the students in ONE day is equivalent to 5 days of missed work. If that is possible, why are our children in school five days a week instead of one?
Research is required and, most likely, an attorney. It is sad to say that this kind of policy is pervasive in Franklin County. If nothing is done to remove these people from their position of power, WE deserve what we are receiving.
I was a student at Franklin County High School. I attend every saturday school they had. I really think that they need change the policy. When I was in school you could only miss 10 days and over 16 you failed. I attend 3 saturday as a senior every saturday was equivalent to 2 days I had miss over 10. I didnt learn anything in saturday. Everyone I knew including myself copyed a book. The only thing was no talking or sleeping. But What you learn no one cared. They just wanted you there to earn the money for saturday school. I now live in NC, So my children will never know FCHS. I wish that I would have received a better education then I did. It wasnt NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, IT WAS OK PASS THEM SO I DONT HAVE TO WORK HARD. SORRY TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE CHILDERN AT FC SCHOOLS.