Cumberland County Schools Unveils Bold Attendance Reforms to Combat Chronic Absenteeism

August 14, 2024

The Cumberland County Board of Education has taken significant steps to address chronic absenteeism by approving the first reading of revised attendance Policy 4400. The Board also proclaimed September 2024 as "Attendance Awareness Month," aligning with state and national efforts to emphasize the importance of regular school attendance.

Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days in a year, has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, with rates in Cumberland County Schools (CCS) exceeding state and national averages. This issue disrupts students' academic progress, impacting their ability to graduate on time and succeed in school.

To combat this, CCS is launching a district-wide attendance campaign in September. The campaign will involve collaboration with key stakeholders, including truancy support specialists, school administrators, student services staff, teachers, data managers, families, students and community members.

Key elements of the revised Policy 4400 include:

• Limiting parent/guardian notes excusing absences to 10 per year
• Requiring submission of notes within five days for absences to be excused
• Potentially retaining students in grades K-5 or denying course credit for students in grades 6-12 with 20 or more unexcused absences

Dr. Melody Chalmers McClain, associate superintendent for Student Support Services, emphasized the importance of this initiative: "Every minute a student spends in school is a step toward a brighter future. Improving attendance isn't just about meeting requirements—it's about ensuring our students have the best chance to succeed. We’re committed to partnering with families to get students to school on time, every day, so that together, we can set them up for lifelong success."

CCS is also actively working to re-engage students who have fallen behind through targeted dropout prevention programs and recovery initiatives.