Handbook - Attendance & Truancy

Student Attendance

Attendance is a critical component in ensuring a student's success at MNPS Virtual School. Absences are used for truancy reporting purposes per TCA 49-6-3001 and impact a student's enrollment eligibility. Tennessee law requires all children ages 6 through 17 to attend school. 

23-24 School Year Attendance Policy

Grades 4-8
Students in grades 4 and 8 receive direct core instruction through Teams. Attendance is taken daily and requires students to be actively engaged, on camera, and responsive to their teacher's prompts and questions. Students who are not actively engaged in Teams will be marked absent for truancy reporting purposes and impact enrollment eligibility.

Grades 9-12
Students who are off-track in one or more courses with an overall grade of less than 60% at set intervals must attend a Student Success Meeting via Teams. Failure to participate in a Student Success Meeting via Teams results in the accrual of an unexcused absence for truancy reporting purposes and impacts enrollment eligibility. Students must be on-track in all of their courses by the dates published in the Virtual School Calendar to avoid being required to attend a Student Success Meeting.

MTSS Tiered Interventions
Students in grades 4 through 9 who receive Tier II or III intervention will receive direct instruction through Teams. Attendance is taken daily and requires students to be actively engaged, on camera, and responsive to their teacher's prompts and questions. Students who are not actively engaged in Teams will be marked absent for truancy reporting purposes and impact enrollment eligibility.

 

Mandatory In-Person Testing

Virtual learning provides students the flexibility to access their courses remotely. Though, there are instances throughout the school year where Virtual School students are required to report for local and state in-person testing, including:

  • MTSS Universal Testing (Grades 5-9)
  • TNReady (TCAP)/EOC Testing
  • ACT Testing (11th & 12th Grade)
  • Pre-ACT (10th Grade)
  • WIDA (EL Students)
  • Dual Credit Exams
  • AP Exams
  • Benchmark Testing
Enrollment eligibility is contingent on students reporting for and completing all required local and state in-person testing.

 

Full-Time Student Truancy & Court Proceedings

For purposes of compulsory attendance, a student failing to schedule or attend Virtual School’s mandated Virtual Intervention Meeting(s) (without an adequate excuse) will receive an unexcused absence. Virtual School will intervene, based upon accumulated absences, consistent with the following:

  • One (1) to Four (4) Day(s) Unexcused Absences: The Interventionist provides written notice via email to the student and parent/guardian noting the number of absences as well as offering support and next steps.
  • Five (5) Days Unexcused Absences: The Interventionist provides written notice, via a letter sent via email and mail, to the parent/guardian noting the number of absences and provides information on Tennessee’s Compulsory Attendance Law. Further, Virtual School’s Counselor requests a meeting with the student and parent/guardian.
  • Seven (7) Days Unexcused Absences: The Assistant Principal provides written notice, via a letter sent via email and mail, to the parent/guardian noting the number of absences and provides information on Tennessee’s Compulsory Attendance Law. Further, Virtual School’s Executive Principal requests a meeting with the student and parent/guardian. Note: In the event that the parent/guardian does not comply with the meeting request, Virtual School refers the student and parent/guardian to our designated social worker.
  • Ten (10) Days Unexcused Absences: Each quarter, the Assistant Principal provides written notice via email and mail, via a letter, to the parent/guardian regarding non-compliance with Tennessee’s Compulsory Attendance Law. Further, Virtual School refers the student and parent/guardian to Davidson County’s Juvenile Court (for noncompliance and legal intervention purposes).

 

Attendance Quick Facts

  • Students missing just two (2) days a month are less likely to graduate high school.
  • Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) of the school year increases the chance your student will not read or master math at grade level.
  • Students are at risk of falling behind if they miss just one or two days every few weeks.
  • Missing required Student Success Meetings or in-person testing may result in poor attendance.
  • Students learn valuable social skills and have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with other students and school staff by being present and actively engaged.

 

Parental Involvement

Parents can help by monitoring their student's academic progress and ensuring they attend all required virtual and in-person sessions, including mandatory testing. Parent or guardian absence excuse notes cannot be accepted after five absences, regardless of whether the absences are consecutive or not. Physician notes will be required for students after reaching five absences. Per MNPS district policy, excuse notes must be received within three (3) days of an absence.

 

Our Promise to Students & Families

We know there is a wide variety of reasons students are absent from school, from health concerns to transportation challenges. Many people in our building are prepared to connect you with resources if your family is facing any challenges. In addition to Mr. Hawk, you can always contact Mrs. Bauman, School Counselor. MNPS Virtual promises to monitor students' attendance and academic progress, notify parents when students are off-track, and identify barriers and support available to overcome challenges to assist students in being academically successful.

 

MNPS Policy & Tennessee Law

It is essential you understand MNPS policies and procedures and Tennessee State Law regarding attendance to ensure your child is successful in school. State law for mandatory attendance requires children ages 6 through 17 to attend school. A student is considered truant after they have more than four (4) unexcused absences in a school year. When a student has five unexcused absences, the principal may make a referral to juvenile court so the court can intervene with the student’s truancy if school-level interventions have failed. For more information on MNPS attendance policies, review the MNPS Student-Parent Handbook and MNPS Attendance and Truancy Policy 6.200.

 

Part-Time Student Attendance

A part-time student—to be considered present and attending the Virtual School course—must be present and physically attending the designated virtual lab period at the school of primary enrollment (i.e., the period designated in the student’s schedule to complete the course). Thus, if a student is absent at the school of primary enrollment during that period—the learner would be counted “absent” for that class period. The primary school of enrollment is responsible for initiating any attendance-related interventions for part-time students.