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Student attendance protocol unveiled

Children must regularly attend school in order to learn, do well academically and acquire the skills needed to excel in their future endeavors. This is why the state of Georgia has a compulsory attendance law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.1) that governs school attendance.

As required by revisions in this law, the Fayette County School System has established a new protocol to address student attendance. A task force of judges, educators, public safety officials, juvenile court representatives and other community agency officials formulated the new protocol.

The revised law requires each school system to clearly define student attendance issues and requirements, particularly tardies, absences and truancy notifications to parents whose student(s) attendance is out of compliance. The protocol also addresses possible legal consequences facing parents whose children habitually miss school.

School attendance has always been important; however, since the No Child Left Behind Act, attendance has become a top priority. In Georgia, school attendance affects a school's and school system's ability to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). In some cases, poor attendance can put a school on the Needs Improvement List, even though the school meets all academic goals and other criteria.

Students and parents will be alerted to changes in the attendance protocol through notices in student handbooks and acknowledgement forms when school begins in August.