• Norfolk Public Schools is committed to working with students and parents/guardians to provide a framework that supports consistent and regular attendance for all children. Our staff urges you to make daily attendance a priority. Most experts acknowledge that good school attendance increases academic success and reduces the likelihood of criminal and other anti-social behavior such as substance abuse, promiscuity, running away, and parent-child conflict. We value the education of our students, recognizing the relationship between regular attendance and student achievement. We work with our families to ensure that whenever possible, their children attend school.

    These next few pages provide information about the laws and regulations governing school attendance, and the procedures followed by the division to maintain compliance with these mandated policies. These procedures help ensure students attend school regularly and reinforce the consistent implementation of attendance procedures across all grade levels, Pre-K through 12th grade. Please read the following information with care so you are fully informed of school policies, practices, and procedures.

    Virginia Compulsory Attendance Law

    The Virginia Compulsory Attendance Law indicates children between ages 5 and 18 are required to attend school whether it is a public school, private school, home instruction, or another state-approved option (See §22.1-254 Code of Virginia). Every parent, guardian, or other person in the Commonwealth, having control or charge of any child who will have reached the fifth birthday on or before September 30th of any school year, and who has not passed the 18th birthday, shall ensure that the student in their charge is enrolled and actively attending a public, private denominational, or parochial school. Home instruction is addressed under this regulation; however, a Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction is required to be on file with the Department of Student Support Services for the current school year.

    Attendance in the Virtual Scholars Academy

    To ensure that the VSA is meeting the Virginia Compulsory Attendance Law, multiple means of collecting attendance will be utilized. First, attendance will be taken at every required Zoom meeting. Students that are actively participating and engaging in the Zoom meeting will be marked present for that class. Additionally, attendance will be taken based on the student’s active participation in the Canvas platform. If a student has attended the required daily Zoom meetings and actively engaged in the Canvas platform for the day, they will be marked present for the entire day. 

    If a student is unable to attend a required Zoom meeting or engage in the Canvas platform, the student’s Learning Coach (parent/guardian) is required to inform the teacher of their absence. Similar to in-person instruction, a parent must provide documentation to ensure their student receives an excused absence. If a student does not attend a Zoom session or actively engage in Canvas, their absence will be marked unexcused. The label of unexcused absence will not change until documentation is received from the Learning Coach (parent/guardian.)

    Ultimately, student attendance at the VSA is dependent on teacher and Learning Coach communication. The daily schedule and routines that are created for your student will strengthen their academic success. Attendance and participation in all VSA activities are essential to the success of your student.