Governance committee sends student attendance policy back to superintendent for rewrite

The Fairfax County Public Schools governance committee voted unanimously in-room to send the draft Student Attendance at School policy (Policy 2232) back to the superintendent for revision following concerns from board members about content, structure and potentially punitive measures.

Committee members said the draft reads as a "word salad" and lacks a clear purpose statement, section headings and emphasis on chronic absenteeism. Several members asked staff to make the policy a clearer communication tool: describe why attendance matters, define and explain chronic absenteeism, and consolidate related excused-absence categories (illness, medical procedures, mental health, military family events) with clear, consistent language.

Board members expressed concern about a new provision in the draft that references notifying juvenile and domestic relations court and possible suspension of a student's driver—s license after 10 or more unexcused absences. Several members said that consequence appeared out of step with the policy—s stated goals and requested staff explain the rationale, the legal basis, and whether suspension of a driver's license is the court—s decision rather than the school system—s. Board members also asked staff to move operational, step-by-step procedures into regulation rather than leaving them verbatim in policy.

Doctor Reed committed to redrafting the policy with clearer purpose and definitions, to examine how suspension-of-license language is used and whether it properly belongs in policy or should be cited as a possible court action in regulation. The chair moved to return the policy to the superintendent with the committee—s requested edits; Miss Marin seconded, and the motion carried unanimously among members present in the room.