New school attendance policy in effect in West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — As most north central West Virginia school districts head back to school this week , a new attendance policy is in effect this school year.

Under the new policy, school principals will make “meaningful contact” with students’ parents or guardians after three total unexcused absences during the school year—defined as a phone call, video conference, home visit or contact via digital platforms. In the case of 10 unexcused absences, “the attendance director or assistant may make a complaint against the parent, guardian, or custodian before a magistrate of the county.”

The policy defines excused absences as:

• A medical or dental appointment with a written excuse from a doctor or dentist.
• An illness or injury with a “timely written excuse” from the student’s parent or guardian, provided absences without a doctor’s note do not exceed 10 per school year unless the student has a medically documented chronic health condition or disability that adversely impacts in-person attendance approved by a county school board or the principal.
• An illness or injury in the family accompanied by “a reasonable explanation for why the student’s absence was necessary and caused by the illness or injury.”
• A death in the family.
• School-approved or county-approved curricular or extra-curricular activities.
• A judicial obligation or court appearance involving the student.
• A military requirement for students enlisted or enlisting in the military.

Any absence that does not fit the definition of an excused absence is considered an unexcused absence under the new policy, which went into effect on July 1, 2024.

The changes stem from Senate Bill 568 , which passed nearly unanimously in the House of Delegates and State Senate, with only Del. Henry Dillon (R – Wayne, 029) and State Sen. Patricia Rucker (R – Jefferson, 16) voting nay.

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