School
Attendance and Engagement Information for Parents
The
attendance services program responds to concerns
regarding excessive student absenteeism.
Research regarding effective schools indicate
that students
who feel connected to the adults in their
school setting and who attend regularly have
the most
academic success. Attendance officers attempt
to intervene when patterns of absences begin
to appear. Together with the parent(s), school
support staff, which include school social
workers, counselors, teachers, and administrators,
develop
a plan that encourages students to participate
fully in the school program. Attendance officers
also enforce Virginia laws regarding compulsory
school attendance and take appropriate action
through county agencies or through the juvenile
court system. Services provided by attendance
officers include conferences, petitions and
residency checks.
New for School Year 2009—The
Link Between Attendance and School Engagement
FCPS is implementing new attendance policies and
practices, including technology, to encourage consistent
student attendance and engage students, teachers,
and parents as partners in building positive attendance
habits. These changes include:
