Dear Parents/Guardians,

In the 2024 legislative session, WV State Code §18-8-1 through §18-8-5, which governs school attendance, changed significantly.  The West Virginia Board of Education and Greenbrier County Schools recognize that there is a direct relationship between students’ daily school attendance and academic performance, graduation, and the development of good work habits.

The focus of the law has changed from punitive, such as filing truancy charges, to creating a System of Support at the school level to ensure the success of all students. Once a student becomes chronically absent, a meeting will be held to create a plan of support.  During the Tier 2 Interventions, the team, including the parents, will try to identify the root cause of the absences and support families by connecting them with different services such as Communities in Schools, Family Resource Network, or ParentGuidance.org.  If a student continues to miss school without good cause, the Attendance Director shall make a complaint to the Prosecutor and/or the WV Department of Human Services.

All absences must meet the following criteria to be excused:

1.      Failure for the bus to run

2.      Medical or dental appointment with a valid written excuse from the physician or dentist

3.      Parent notes:  personal illness or injury of the student – limited to 10 days per year and must be turned in within 3 days of absence.

a.      This includes illness in the immediate family

b.      The excuse must include a reasonable explanation for the student’s absence

4.      Death in Family

5.      Judicial Obligation

6.      Military requirements

7.      Chronic Medical Condition – This form must be completed annually.  The law states that the Student Assistance Team, IEP team or Section 504 team must meet to discuss and review these quarterly.

Due to the new law, some of our previous policies and procedures, including educational leave, will change.  We understand these changes may take time to get used to, and we want to assure you that Greenbrier County Schools is here to support you and your family through this transition. We look forward to a great school year and working with all of our families as we navigate these new policies.                                                                                                                       

Respectfully,

Jeff Bryant, Superintendent

Print-friendly version

The Office of Social Service and Attendance provides a comprehensive array of services utilized to address the needs of the county schools as well as the students enrolled in those schools. The Office of Social Service and Attendance serves each of these schools with truancy services, homeless services, coordination of homeschooling, liaison to county courthouse, verification of enrollment for driver's licenses, children's apparel program services, provides in-services for teachers and administrators on a variety of topics and skills.

Truancy Services

The first and foremost service that is offered by the Office of Social Service and Attendance is that of truancy monitoring.  Currently in Greenbrier County there is a staff of two to address the attendance concerns of the county.

The truancy services that are offered include serving of the Compulsory Attendance forms and phone calls in conjunction with parent meetings, resource to the school and the parents, filing of juvenile petitions in circuit court and criminal complaints in magistrate court.  In addition to the preliminary and adjudicatory hearings the Attendance Director also participates in all status hearing as well as the quarterly judicial reviews on all students in the court system.

Homeschooling

The Attendance Director also serves as the Homeschool Coordinator for Greenbrier County. This service also includes the management of all homeschool files and the monitoring of each case regarding the requirements of the law.

Homeless Student Services

This program addresses the Federal Law known as The McKinney-Vento Act.. Services include providing clothing for homeless children if needed, tutoring services, school supplies, transportation to the school of origin, assistance in enrolling students in school as well as linkage and referral to needed health services.

Parents Make the Difference

Getting your child to school on-time, every day, unless they are sick, is something that you can do to ensure your child has a chance to succeed in school. While others can help, you are the bottom line. You can promote good attendance when you:

Establish and stick to the basic routines (going to bed early, waking up on time, etc.) that will help your child develop the habit of on-time attendance.

Talk to your child about why going to school every day is critical and important unless they are sick. If your child seems reluctant to go to school, find out why and work with the teacher, administrator or afterschool provider to get them excited about going to school.

Come up with back up plans for who to turn to (another family member, a neighbor or fellow parents) to help you get your child to school if something comes up (e.g. another child gets sick, your car breaks down, etc.).

Reach out for help if you are experiencing tough times (e.g. transportation, unstable housing, loss of a job, health problems) that make it difficult to get your child to school. Other parents, your child’s teacher, principal, social worker, school nurse, afterschool providers or community agencies can help you problem solve or connect you to a needed resource.

If your child is absent, work with the teacher to make sure she or he has an opportunity to learn and make up for the academics missed.