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Prince Edward to align pre-K attendance with K–12 policy after VDOE request; 15-day absence rule emphasized
Summary
Following a request from the Virginia Department of Education, the school division will enforce attendance rules for pre-K consistent with K–12 policy, including dropping a pupil from the roster after 15 consecutive days of absence in line with the Code of Virginia.
The Prince Edward County School Board was told Tuesday that the Virginia Department of Education has asked divisions statewide to align prekindergarten attendance procedures with K–12 compulsory attendance rules. The division will enforce the rule that a pupil be withdrawn from the roster after 15 consecutive days of absence, consistent with the division’s existing Code of Virginia guidance.
Presenters said the change does not alter the compulsory-attendance statute but clarifies how pre-K absences will be recorded and how the division will manage wait lists. Staff gave the board an example from the prior year when a pre-K child missed 46 consecutive days and was not dropped; that absence prevented students on a wait list from being enrolled.
Administrators said supports and attendance-planning procedures used for K–12 students will remain available to pre-K families: staff will meet to develop attendance plans, ask about barriers to attendance and provide supports where possible. The presenter also noted that some pre-K days (for example, registration or staff remote-work days) are not recorded as absences under the revised practice.
The board was asked to review policy JEA (compulsory attendance) for any wording changes necessary to match the updated practice, including the birthday cutoff language that currently refers to children turning 5 by Sept. 30; staff said they would check whether a policy change is required.
