Petersburg schools outline data‑driven plan to curb chronic absenteeism, cite 44.62% rate at one school
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Summary
Division presenters told the school board they are expanding weekly monitoring, family outreach, legal referrals and targeted supports — including housing assistance and a $40,000 VTSS award — to reduce chronic absenteeism and reach a 95% average daily attendance goal.
A division presenter for Petersburg City Public Schools described a multi‑pronged effort Monday to reduce chronic absenteeism after data showed one school had a 44.62% chronic‑absence rate last year.
The presenter said the 44.62% figure for Pleasant Lane reflects students missing at least 10% of enrolled days and that the division compares year‑to‑date attendance with the state’s May snapshot for the prior school year. The division’s internal goal is to reach 95% average daily attendance across schools.
The presenter, identified in the transcript as Speaker 3, said the approach is data driven and includes regular meetings with principals, a one‑page attendance plan template for schools, involvement of mental‑health staff and the McKinney‑Vento liaison for students experiencing homelessness, and clearer role guidance for support staff so principals are less burdened. "We're gonna be making changes as we go through... I'm always data driven," the presenter said.
Officials said the division will increase weekly monitoring and flagging of at‑risk students, boost parent engagement and deploy wraparound mental‑health services. The presenter also said the division will pursue more legal referrals for students who meet chronic‑absence thresholds.
To address out‑of‑school barriers, the presenter described local housing work that placed three families — previously staying in hotels — into permanent housing, and said two additional families were being processed for homes. The presenter framed housing as a direct way to reduce chronic absenteeism among students covered by the McKinney‑Vento program.
The division reported a $40,000 award through VTSS (Virginia Tiered System of Supports) to help with discipline and chronic‑absence interventions. The presenter added the division will increase after‑hours and weekend home visits, canvassing and targeted family outreach, noting that ParentSquare notifications produced parent confusion in some COVID‑era cases and needed clearer messaging.
Board member (Speaker 4) asked how the division would determine whether large enrollment numbers — cited as roughly "500" at some schools — were affecting whether students are getting needed academic instruction. The presenter said curriculum changes and MAP assessment results will help identify student performance and inform targeted supports.
The presentation closed with the presenter inviting additional questions and noting staff would continue monitoring attendance trends and implementing the described measures. No formal vote was recorded on the topic during the meeting.