September 24, 2024
Prince George County Public Schools has partnered with several local organizations to collaborate on the creation of our new Truancy Prevention Team. This team will be part of our random truancy sweeps that will take place in our community during the school year. The goal of these sweeps is to connect with families of students who are facing attendance challenges and provide support to ensure their children attend school consistently.
Members of our Truancy Prevention Team include school staff, members of the local courts and law enforcement community, and educational liaisons.
During the sweeps, two Truancy Prevention Team representatives will visit the homes of students with an UNEXCUSED absence on the day of a sweep. As a reminder, an unexcused absence refers to any absence that keeps a student away from school AND is not excused for the reasons outlined as excused absences. Examples of unexcused absences include, but are not limited to, vacation, personal travel, including travel sports, missing the bus, child care, and truancy.
During the home visit, TPT members hope to provide families with information on attendance and provide any support needed regarding possible attendance challenges.
Why This Matters
Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student's academic performance. That's only two days a month and that is known as being chronically absent.
More Information
Visit our Be Here PG! Attendance Resources website for more details on how you can foster health school attendance habits and about the importance of being at school everyday at http://www.pgs.k12.va.us/beherepg.