I am writing in support of the proposed Standards of Accreditation regulations.  In 2022-2023 the number of students that were chronically absent, missing just 2 days of school a month, doubled from 2018-2019. As shown through Virginia's SOL results, students in grade 3-8 who missed 18+ days of school scored?18% lower than students with regular attendance. Students in grade 3-8 who missed 36+ days (2 months of school) scored 31% lower than?students with regular attendance in reading. Students cannot learn if they are not in the classroom.  

The Virginia Department of Education has provided deep support to schools to address chronic absenteeism, including through the ALL In initiative. Divisions have also stepped up and implemented policies and practices to ensure students are regularly attending school. Chronic absenteeism is a focus of the current system and should continue to be a focus under the new school performance and support framework. We appreciate the work the Virginia Board of Education and school divisions have done to focus on chronic absenteeism and ensure that chronic absenteeism alone will not lead to a school’s final label.