August 2009


Dear Parents:

This is an important letter regarding your child’s attendance.  Many school districts are going to great lengths to boost attendance.  Some even offer incentives and rewards.  In the Las Virgenes Unified School District, we realize that there is a direct correlation between high levels of attendance and high levels of academic achievement.  Research shows that students with high attendance earn higher grades, have fewer discipline problems and are better prepared for the future.  Is this not reward enough?

For each day a student misses school, they get more than two days behind their peers. This is because they must make up missed learning and catch up with new learning at the same time. Each day a student is in school, they improve their skills. Each day a student goes to school, they learn a little more about responsibility.

Schools do not receive money for any absence - excused or unexcused. They only receive funding for students who are actually in class. For each student that misses school, even for an excused absence, the school loses approximately $31 per day. In income, this is the equivalent of the cost of three library books or thirteen reams of paper.

The top three most common reasons for absence are illness, a medical appointment, and family business. We would like to try to minimize the days a student is absent. Illness should be taken seriously, and students should stay home when they have a fever or are contagious. Appointments of any kind should be scheduled before or after school if possible. If an appointment must be made during school hours, it is advised that the student come to school before the appointment and return after the appointment, if possible. Partial daily attendance is better than not attending at all. Family business should also be scheduled after school hours, on weekends, or during non-school days. If a vacation must be planned during the school week, and it will be for five days or longer, an Independent Study contract for absences may be requested. The district will receive state funding when the contract is completed. Students other than stated above are not entitled to make up school work that was missed. Students who miss school for an excused absence (i.e., illness) are entitled to make up school work. Students who miss school for an unexcused absence (i.e., family vacation) are not entitled to make up school work.

School districts rely on revenue generated by actual attendance to fund programs. Last year, our district lost more than $353,059 in revenue for students who were absent for reasons other than illness.  If your student must be absent for a reason other than illness, please consider making a voluntary donation of $31 per day, or whatever amount you wish.  These funds can be donated to the Las Virgenes Unified School District and will go a long way in helping alleviate the loss of state funds due to absences.

Sincerely,

Donald M. Zimring, Ph.D.
Superintendent