COVINGTON, Va – Alleghany Highlands Public Schools has made significant progress in their initiative to curb chronic absenteeism in their schools.
Virginia schools have been working to reduce the rate of chronic absenteeism for some time, and their efforts have been successful, as the rate declined last year. More specifically, Alleghany Highlands Public Elementary Schools saw a 10.5% decrease in chronic absenteeism last year.
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“A significant amount of absences from school is detrimental to student achievement. I am happy to report that our absenteeism rate is trending in the right direction. We continue to partner with our parents to understand the barriers that are keeping their child from attending school and come up with solutions to get their child back in school regularly. Each school in our division has come up with creative incentives to get students excited to come to school daily. We also have attendance competitions among schools.”
Cindy Fox, AHPS’ supervisor of customized learning programs and division attendance.
Chronic absenteeism can negatively impact academic performance for students, so teachers and staff have been encouraging better attendance with different incentives, as well as having “recover” days, which allow students to make up missed time in the classroom.
“It is incredibly difficult to entice secondary students into coming into school but it is something that needs to be done. Having students in seats for the school day is one of, if not the most important, aspects of their learning and education. It is an uphill battle but I think it can be done.”
Elijah Halterman, Virginia Department of Health youth advisor
AHPS also announced that on January 21, the school board will be recognizing students who achieved perfect attendance in the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year. These students will be recognized at a reception with “light refreshments.”