Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

Learn how to encourage regular school attendance

Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade.

Four students smiling; Green, yellow, and red indicators for when absences become an issue.
When do absences become an issue?  Satisfactory, 9 or fewer days; Warning Signs, 10 to 17 days; Chronic Absence, 18 or more days.

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! "We All Belong"

The video below is also available in the following languages: Spanish and Korean.

How Families Can Help

Make School Attendance a Priority

Help Your Student Stay Engaged

Communicate with the School

  • Report Future Absences
    If parents are aware of a future absence, such as a full day absence for a civic engagement activity (middle or high school) or cultural observance, they may contact the school to report the absence and related date. Extended absences, typically for hardship reasons, must be documented and submitted to the school principal at least three to five school days in advance for review and action.
    Elementary Prearranged Absence Form | Secondary Prearranged Absence Form

How Staff Can Help

Attendance support resources for FCPS staff are available on the Attendance Employee Hub site (requires staff login)
 

Understanding the FCPS School Calendar. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

The video below is also available in the following languages: Spanish and Korean.

Did you know?

  • Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
  • Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
  • Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
  • Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.