Radford High tracks attendance by block; school to use night school and social-probation to curb chronic absences

Radford High School officials told the school board on Sept. 10 they are tracking attendance by individual class block under the new block schedule and will apply a system of consequences and supports for students who miss multiple blocks.

Assistant Principal Scott Larimer (mentioned during the meeting) and Principal Mr. Simpson discussed changes prompted by a block schedule that doubles instructional time per class. Mr. Simpson said the high school will track absences by block and apply interventions when students hit specified thresholds. Students who miss eight blocks — an amount equivalent to a larger number of class sessions under the block schedule — can be placed on social-probation and required to attend night school; each hour of night school attended reduces the missed-block tally by one, Simpson said.

Simpson said the intent is to hold students accountable for attendance while giving them an opportunity to recover lost instructional time; night-school sessions also provide academic support for students who fall behind. The high school has already applied social-probation to some students and sent family contacts. Simpson said the division also updated a tardy policy last spring and has reintroduced it this year.

Board members raised concerns about increased workload for students under the block schedule — a change noted by a student representative during the meeting — and the effect of absences that now represent more instructional time per missed day. Administrators said they will continue to monitor block-level attendance and report results to the board.