Attendance
In accordance with the Code of Virginia, it is the legal responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure that students are in regular daily attendance for the entire school day. It also is their responsibility to seek homebound instruction when children are absent from school because of extended periods of illness.
Charlottesville City Schools support regular attendance by providing the services of attendance counselors, social workers and school nurses to assist parents in finding solutions to attendance and/or medical problems. The attendance counselors are authorized and required to file petitions in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court to obtain compliance with the school attendance laws.
Absence from School
By providing written proof, students may be excused for the following:
- Personal illness or illness in the immediate family
- Death in the family
- Medical or dental appointment
- Court appearance
- Religious holiday or instruction
- Emergency that, in the judgment of the principal, requires absence from school
- A trip that extends or enhances education, when such a trip is approved in advance by the principal
The principal or designee must approve in advance requests for excused absences for reasons not listed above.
Parents should contact the school as soon as possible to notify the school of any absence and the reasons for the absence. School staff will attempt to call the parents of any child absent from school to notify the parent of the absence. Students who are absent from school for an entire day or for one or more class periods must bring notes written and signed by parents or guardians. The note shall contain the reason(s) for the date(s) of the absence(s).
Students who have been absent are responsible for requesting assignments immediately upon their return to school and must complete makeup work within the time period assigned by the teachers. When absences are excused, teachers must provide assignments, tests and other work missed, and schedule a reasonable time period for their completion. Makeup work completed on time will be graded on the same basis as other work. Makeup credit will be given when absences are excused.
Absence from Class
Once students arrive on school property, they may not leave before the end of the school day unless signed out by parents or guardians. All students must maintain a full-day schedule of classes unless they are participating in bona fide work programs, are granted waivers by the division Superintendent or are a student with a disability with an Individualized Education Plan which sets a schedule for less than a full day. Parents or guardians of students who wish to apply for waivers may do so in writing, clearly stating the reasons for the waivers. Only the Superintendent may grant waivers to students who wish to be dismissed early on a regular basis.
Early Dismissal
A child may leave school premises during the school day only with the permission of his/her parent, legal guardian, or the principal. Any child attending school for a part of a day is considered present for the entire day.
Tardiness
Students are expected to arrive at school and attend all classes on time daily. Students are tardy when they do not cross the threshold of the instructional area by the sound of the tardy bell. Excessive and unexcused tardiness to school or class creates a serious interruption of the orderly learning process, and corrective action will be taken. Students arriving late to school must be signed in by parents or guardians, or present notes signed by parents or guardians stating the reasons for tardiness.