March 8, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians:
The second semester of the 2019-2020 school year has begun and we have already started planning for the 2020-2021 school year! We have exciting plans and high expectations for your child’s learning. I know that you also have many hopes and dreams for your child’s success in school and beyond.
With the 2020-2021 school year, the definition of Compulsory School Age will be updated as per changes in the School Code. Compulsory School Age refers to the period of a child’s life from the time the child’s parents elect to have the child enter school and which shall be no later than six (6) years of age until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age.
This change shifts the previously mandated requirement two years earlier and one year later. As such, we once again encourage your collaboration with individual school attendance contacts regarding this change.
Every day counts. Every minute counts. Key research exists that demonstrates high attendance matters for high student achievement. This is true in every grade––elementary, middle, and high school. Making the commitment to ensure your child attends school every day is important.
As your child’s most influential teacher, I am asking for your support in helping your child get to school each day on time. Your child needs to be in school and engaged in learning to reach his or her full potential. Yet, we realize that every family faces challenges of varying degrees. Please make your child’s teacher or your child’s principal aware if and when your family needs help dealing with a challenge to good school attendance. We will do our best to help you and your family ensure that school attendance stays on track.
Thank you for all you do to support your child’s school success and well-being. I look forward to working with you now and in the future!
Sincerely,
Randy M. Ziegenfuss, Ed.D.
Superintendent