Parent/Guardian Handbook

The following expectations have been developed to provide a positive, safe, and secure learning environment. It is the responsibility of each family and teacher to instruct students in appropriate behavior at school and to be consistent in the enforcement of these expectations. Regular in-class lessons are given throughout the year to expand student’s understanding of S.W.I.M. behaviors.

Each year, Henrico County Public Schools share the Code of Student Conduct with families. The purpose of this publication is to provide students, parents/guardians, school personnel, and the public with a concise and comprehensive description of the minimum standards of behavior for all students enrolled in the public schools of Henrico County. It defines appropriate student conduct and presents a menu of alternative interventions and responses to be employed by teachers and/or school administrators to address individuals who exhibit inappropriate behavior. Emphasis is placed upon behavioral expectations of Henrico students in clear and consistent language for common understanding and support in meeting the expectations.

This Code of Student Conduct applies to all Henrico County Public School students. It is enforced when they are:

• On school property.
• At school bus stops.
• In school division owned or contracted vehicles.
• In attendance at school or at any school-sponsored activity, including virtual classes and other school-sponsored online activities.

It is important that you take time to review the Code of Student Conduct, which can be found online, to stay informed on the rights of students, families, and schools.

The main office is open daily according to the HCPS Calendar each year. Office hours are 7:00am to 3:30pm daily. If you are unable to reach the main office, staff are available via email or Parent Square message. The office phone number is 804-328-4035. If you require an interpreter, dial 804-409-4036.

It is vital that students arrive on time each day and are not picked up early from school unless necessary for appointments or emergencies. Every minute counts in the day! Below is a brief overview of the daily schedule for K-5 students at Donahoe. The order of each grade-level’s daily schedule varies. Check with your child’s teacher about their specific schedule.

• 7:20-7:40am Morning Arrival & Breakfast
  • 7:40am - Tardy Bell rings - students arriving after this time are considered tardy
• 7:40-7:50am Morning S.W.I.M. Assembly
• 7:50am-2:05pm Student Learning Hours
  • Recess: 30 minutes
  • LAMPS (Library, Art, Music, PE, School Counseling): 40 minutes
  • Lunch: 30 minutes
• *1:30pm - Early pick-up from the main office ends at 1:30 each day. If you arrive for pick-up after 1:30pm, you will be directed to join the carpool line outside and wait until students are dismissed at 2:10pm.

In order to maintain a safe arrival and dismissal for students and families, we ask that you follow the guidelines below:

• Arrival
  • Students should be dropped off in the parking lot loop each morning. Students should not be dropped off on Graves Rd. or in the bus loop.
  • During arrival drop-off, staff members will be outside to support the flow of traffic from 7:20am to 7:40am. For their safety, students should not be dropped off prior to 7:20am.
  • During arrival drop-off 7:20am-7:40am, we ask that adults remain in their vehicles when dropping off students. This assists with the flow of traffic.
    • There are walkers and specific student programs at Donahoe that require students to be dropped off by an adult with hand-to-hand transition. Please be mindful of pedestrian traffic as you drive through the parking lot and along Graves Rd. in the morning.
  • After 7:40am, it is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to park their vehicle in the parking lot and walk their student to the main entrance.
  • When dropping a student off for school after 7:40am, there is a clipboard on the walkway near the main entrance for parents/guardians to sign their students in for the day. No entry into the building is required.
  • The front loop is for buses. There may be instances of late arriving buses, HCPS buses turning around to complete routes for other schools, and half-day programs which all require a clear bus lane. Do not park in the bus lane.
• Dismissal
  • Dismissal begins at 2:10pm. Similar to arrival, staff members will be outside to support the flow of traffic from 2:10pm to 2:45pm.
  • All pick-up traffic should enter the parking lot and join the line to pick up their student. If the flow of traffic is followed by each car, the process moves very quickly and the line is generally clear by 2:30pm. 
  • Parent Pick-Up begins at 2:10pm, which means families should plan to arrive at Donahoe no later than 2:30pm to pick their student(s) up. Staff members have additional obligations after school dismisses. Delays in picking students up in a timely manner impacts our staff’s ability to do their jobs efficiently.
  • Students who are not picked up by 2:45pm will be brought to the main office. Parents/Guardians should park their vehicle in the parking lot and enter the main office to sign their student out.
  • The front loop is for buses. There may be instances of late arriving buses, HCPS buses turning around to complete routes for other schools, and PreK/Kindergarten students returning to the school via bus. Do not park in the bus lane.

Henrico County Public Schools strives to be proactive in anticipating school health-care needs. The HCPS Department of School Health Services believes that students thrive in a collaborative, holistic environment. The department communicates regularly with instructors about their students’ needs, and embraces an approach to student health care that is all-inclusive. If students, teachers, staff members or families think someone in the school community needs medical care, please let your school nurse or another member of the School Health Services Department know.

• Student Illness & Attendance
  • Students should not be in school if they:
    • Have a fever of 100.4 degrees or greater before taking a fever-reducing medication.
    • Are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea because of illness.
    • Have an unknown rash or possible contagious condition.
    • Are unable to focus due to pain, a chronic health condition or an acute illness.
    • Have a flu-like illness (with or without fever), characterized by headache, fatigue, cough, aches, weakness and sore throat.
  • Students should be in school if they:
    • Have a runny nose or little cough, but no other symptoms
    • Have no fever for the past 24 hours (temp of 100.4 or higher) and have had no fever-reducing medicine during that time period
    • Have not thrown up or had diarrhea for 24 hours
• Student Pick-Up for Illness
  • Please be prompt when picking up your ill or injured child to minimize his or her chance of spreading or acquiring a contagious illness.
  • A child should be free of symptoms of contagious disease (e.g., fever, vomiting, diarrhea, suspicious rash) for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Medication
  • At times it may be necessary for your child to receive medication during the school day. For the safety of all students, the HCPS Department of School Health Services strictly enforces the Henrico County Public Schools medication policy. Please do not ask the school nurse or clinic attendant to make an exception to the policy.
    • All prescription and over-the-counter medications (including cough drops, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and cold and cough preparations) must be administered by the school nurse or clinic attendant in the school clinic.
    • All medication must be in the original, unopened bottle.
    • A parent or guardian must transport any needed medications to school. They cannot be sent with the child.
    • Written parental permission on the appropriate form is required before any medication may be administered. Forms are available at the school clinic or online at Medication Policy.
  • Asthma Medication - It is highly recommended that inhaled asthma medication be administered in the school clinic so the school nurse can assess the child’s breathing and monitor his or her response to the medication. The following conditions must be met in order to possess and self-administer inhaled asthma medications:
    • Written parental consent that the student may self-administer inhaled asthma medications must be on file with the school.
    • A physician’s order and signature on a prescribed medication form must be on file at school stating the diagnosis of asthma and approving the self-administration of inhaled asthma medications. The frequency and circumstances, which may warrant its use and attesting to the student’s demonstrated ability to safely and effectively self-administer the medication.
    • An individualized health care plan must be prepared for any life-threatening conditions and include emergency procedures. The inhaler must be properly labeled by the pharmacy.
    • Permission to self-administer asthma medications will be effective for one school year and must be renewed annually.
    • Permission may be limited or revoked after appropriate school staff members consult with the student’s parents.
• Allergies
  • Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction involving the respiratory system and leading to circulatory shock. It is caused when a person is exposed to an allergen. The initial reaction may cause localized itching and swelling but may rapidly spread throughout the body in the form of rash or hives over the skin; swelling of the face, mouth and throat; intense itching; a feeling of nervousness or worry; and loss of consciousness.
  • Families should make the school nurse and their child’s teacher aware of any allergies, especially those that are food related. The School Nurse will contact HCPS Dietitian to accommodate any special food requirements.
  • Due to severe allergies in the building, we ask that families refrain from bringing in any food items for students in their child’s classroom. 
  • Self-Administration of EpiPen-Style Auto-Injectivable Epinephrine: It is highly recommended that students with prescriptions for auto-injectable epinephrine keep both doses in the school clinic in event of an anaphylactic episode occurring during the school day. School nurses and clinic attendants are trained to assess and respond to severe allergic reactions that require immediate injection of emergency medications. The following conditions must be met in order to possess and self-administer auto-injectable epinephrine:
    • Written parental consent that the student may self-administer auto-injectable epinephrine must be on file with the school.
    • A physician’s order and signature on a Prescribed Medication Form must be on file at school stating the diagnosis of anaphylaxis and approving the self-administration of auto-injectable epinephrine. The frequency and circumstances that may warrant its use and attesting to the student’s demonstrated ability to safely and effectively self-administer the medication.
    • An individualized health care plan Emergency Allergy Action Plan must be prepared for any life-threatening conditions, and include emergency procedures,
    • The auto-injectable epinephrine must be properly labeled by the pharmacy. Permission to self-administer auto-injectable epinephrine will be effective for one school year and must be renewed annually. Permission may be limited or revoked after appropriate school staff members consult with the student’s parents.

It is important that we have accurate, up-to-date information concerning the name and telephone numbers of people to contact in case of an emergency concerning your child. We need to be notified immediately if this information changes. It is also a parent’s responsibility to remain informed of their child’s academic and behavioral progress throughout the school year. In order to keep you informed, we ask that you remain active on the following apps/websites:

• Power School Parent Portal - PowerSchool gives families with students in pre-K through grade 12 easy access to class grades, attendance information and student schedules. The portal also gives you “single sign-on” access to other online services without having to create accounts specifically for those sites. The online student information tool comes in two versions: one for students and one for parents and guardians. While students get their accounts automatically, parents and guardians need to create an account.
  • PowerSchool Parent Portal can be accessed using a browser on a computer, phone or tablet, or by downloading the app for Apple or Android devices (use the school division’s assigned code, MXZM).
• Parent Square - Email, text and app notifications are used for daily communication by individual schools and the school division’s central office to communicate important news and information. Those notifications will include things like snow days or other time-sensitive alerts, a principal’s weekly message, a late bus, a student absence, a low meal account balance or event information.
  • Parent Square allows you to directly message any school staff member. Administrators have access to ALL direct messages to support you and teachers.
• Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) / Kickboard - We are excited to offer you access to Unified Classroom® Behavior Support (UCBS)/ Kickboard, a powerful digital tool our teachers and administrators use to encourage and reinforce positive behavior choices in real-time. By using this system, we ensure that students are consistently recognized for their positive actions, helping to create a supportive and engaging learning environment. As part of our commitment to keeping you informed, we invite you to connect to the Family Portal to track your child’s behavior progress, view teacher updates, and stay involved in their journey toward success. 
  • Download the Behavior Support App or visit behavior.powerschool.com/family-portal
  • Click Sign Up as a Student or Family Member
  • Enter your information and access code (message Jenny Harkema on Parent Square for your access code)
  • Click Create Account
  • If you have access codes for multiple students, you can add more students to your family member portal account once logged in.
• School Payments - Online School Payments lets you make secure online payments for school fees for a variety of products and services. Please note that a 4% service fee is added to fee totals to pay the vendor for this service.
  • This platform is used for any student fees, including Field Trips, missing Library books, replacement student ID badges, and other relevant fees.
• Lunch Accounts - All students at Donahoe receive free breakfast and lunch daily. This platform allows for funds to be added to student accounts for snacks and ice cream. MySchoolBucks enables parents and guardians to easily pay for school meals, track balances and review purchased items. MySchoolBucks is for all students, in pre-K through grade 12. To use the service, go directly to the MySchoolBucks site and create an account. MySchoolBucks can be accessed using a browser on a computer, phone or tablet, or by downloading the app for Apple or Android devices. Please note that the app has some restrictions and does not display all menu options.
• Bus Tracking App - The Edulog Parent Portal Bus App lets you follow the progress of your student’s bus, receive notifications when a bus enters a user-defined zone, and receive important messages from HCPS Pupil Transportation.

ALL WEBSITES FOR ONLINE SERVICES ABOVE CAN BE FOUND AT:

The Connection: Online Services and Resources

Your consistent presence in your child’s education is important to us and is vital to their success. We welcome you here at Donahoe! With that said, every person arriving at the school building should expect the following each and every time you arrive in order to maintain safety for your child while at school:

• A ‘visitor’ is considered anyone who is not a current employee or student at Donahoe Elementary School. All visitors must report to the main entrance and ring the doorbell to be pre-screened by office staff.
  • Welcome to Donahoe! How can we help you?
• Visitors should respectfully state their purpose for their visit to the school.
  • Good Morning. I am here to pick up my student for an appointment.
• All visitors above the age of 18 will be required to present a valid photo ID or Passport prior to entry. Adults without proper identification will not be permitted to enter the school building. This applies to all visitors for every entry, even if you come to the school every day of the week or multiple times within a day.
  • Thank you! Can we please see an ID?
• If you are in the process of pre-screening outside over the speaker and an additional visitor walks up behind you, an ID or Passport will be required by all individuals within view of the camera before the door is unlocked for anyone. Please do not ‘piggy-back’ into the building (i.e. entering the school while the door is open for someone else entering/exiting), this impacts your student’s safety.
• All visitors will be screened for weapons upon entry. At times, our School Security Officers are absent or are responding to building needs and are not in the vestibule. In these cases, visitors are asked to remain in the vestibule until an SSO or Administrator can screen them. We appreciate your patience.
  • If the alarm sounds, visitors will empty their pockets and pass through the scanner again. If the alarm continues to sound, the visitor will step to the side to be scanned by a trained staff member using a wand. Although the wand does not touch the person, it makes noise when it detects metal. Bags and backpacks will also be searched as needed.
  • There is a zero tolerance policy for weapons on school campuses. If a weapon or illegal substance is found during a search, police will take possession of it immediately. The person bringing the item(s) onto school property will face potential charges by police and disciplinary action by the school aligned with the HCPS Code of Student Conduct.
• Visitors who arrive to pick-up students early will need to wait in the main office or vestibule while the student is called down from their classroom. Learning is our top priority. Your student will not be called down until the designated pick-up person is on site in the main office. Early pick-up ends at 1:30pm. If you arrive after 1:30pm to pick up a child, expect a response similar to this:
  • I’m sorry, early pick-up ended at 1:30. You will need to join the pick-up line outside. Dismissal will begin at 2:10pm. Would you like me to make the student a parent pick-up for you today or would you prefer to meet them at their bus stop?

It is the expectation of Henrico County Public Schools that all visitors, including parents and guardians, who enter the school building to actively engage with students other than their own have completed the HCPS Volunteer Form. This online screening ensures that only individuals who are safe to interact with your child are doing so. You can complete this form NOW and it will be good for one school year. It must be done annually

HCPS takes bullying seriously; therefore, additional offenses under this category may warrant more serious consequences. With that in mind, it is important that students, staff, and families understand the definitions of bullying and are mindful in what they label bullying during conversations with children. HCPS considers bullying to be any aggressive behavior that involves unwanted negative actions and a pattern of behavior repeated over time, and an imbalance of power or strength.

• A person is being bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed repeatedly and over time to negative actions on the part of one or more persons or is exposed to behavior that causes severe emotional trauma. The main components of bullying are aggressive behavior that involves unwanted negative actions that are intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim, and an imbalance of power or strength. Different forms of bullying are verbal, social exclusion or isolation, physical, lies and rumors, money or possessions taken or damaged, being threatened or forced to do things, racial bullying, sexual bullying, gender bullying, gender identity or transgender identity bullying, and cyberbullying via cell phone or Internet. 
• The person who inflicts such activity upon another or others is considered the bully and will be disciplined accordingly. 
• Bullying does not include ordinary teasing, horse-playing, arguing, or peer conflicts.

To assist families and staff with having conversations about identifying when a student is being bullied or is being a bully, Donahoe’s School Counseling Team created this graphic:

School-to-Home communication is a key part of your child’s progress and is expected at Donahoe. Teachers are expected to communicate at least once per week with families - this may be in the form of a newsletter, a phone call, written communication, in-person conferencing, an email, or Parent Square messaging. You can support this communication in the following ways:

• Be sure that your contact information is always up to date with the school. When in doubt, call the main office for guidance.
• Assume positive intent when receiving communication, and we will do the same when receiving communication from you! When in doubt, request a phone call or a conference rather than leaving tone or messaging up to interpretation via written communication. 
• Parent/Teacher Conferences are offered twice per year (one in Fall, one in Spring). We highly encourage you to sign-up for a conference when they are offered.
• If you reach out to a staff member, you should receive a response within one business day. Messages sent on Friday evening may not be answered until Monday, for example. Teachers and staff are expected to monitor messages from 7:20am until 3:10pm. Messages sent before or after this timeframe may not be responded to until the following business day.
• If you are having difficulty reaching your child’s teacher or have not heard a response in more than 24 hours, please call the main office or contact an Administrator via Parent Square.

Daily school attendance is vital for students’ success in school. Federal and state law require that we take attendance daily. Teachers will take attendance daily, even during remote and virtual instruction. Research shows that missing just 10% of school days – or about two days a month over the course of the year – hurts a student’s academic performance. Missing those two days a month, defined as chronic absenteeism, has a big effect on academics. The good news? Strong attendance helps students achieve! Students who attend school regularly read better, are more proficient in math, are more likely to graduate from high school and college and do better in the workplace.  

What can families do? Here are a few tips that can make a big difference for your student:

• Avoid scheduling vacations when school is in session. Vacations are considered unexcused absences.
• Build regular routines for bedtime and the morning.
• Talk about the importance of regular attendance and discuss how your child feels about school.
• Don’t let students miss school unless they’re truly sick. Remember, stomachaches and headaches may be signs of anxiety. See notes above in the Clinic section when deciding if a student should miss school due to illness. If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, school social workers or other parents for advice on how to help your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
• Avoid scheduling medical appointments when school is in session.
• Develop backup plans for getting students to school if something comes up. Ask a family member, neighbor or another parent for help.
• Seek support from school staff or community groups to help with transportation, health problems or concerns about a safe path to school.

While chronic absenteeism rates impact school accountability measures, they have an even more direct impact on your student’s academic progress and on teachers’ ability to effectively deliver instruction that results in student growth. Good attendance habits must start early! In 2025-2026, our preschool and Kindergarten students had the highest rates of chronic absenteeism.

In the 2026-2027 school year, Preschool and Kindergarten families can expect a higher level of focus on attendance initiatives across the school year. We encourage you to use the suggestions above to establish positive attendance habits early at home!

For all families K-5 when your student is absent, here is what you can expect:

• Daily Attendance: Your child’s teacher takes attendance daily by 8:15am. Automated phone calls go out to families mid-morning to notify them that their child has been marked absent from school. Use this call as your reminder to contact the school to let us know why your child is absent. (Unfortunately, sometimes mistakes happen and a student is inadvertently marked absent. Please call the office if you feel this has happened, we will immediately locate the child and ensure they are safely at school and then resolve the error in our records.)
• After 2-3 Absences: Expect a phone call from a school staff member to check-in on your student and to see if there is any need for support from school staff or community resources.
• After 4 UNexcused Absences: Expect a phone call from the Family Advocate for Donahoe Elementary school to check-in, review attendance expectations, and identify if there is any need for support.
• After 5 UNexcused Absences: Expect a phone call or home visit from the School Social Worker in order to complete a required Attendance Action Plan.
• After 7 UNexcused Absences: Expect an additional call or home visit from school staff to review attendance expectations and share that attendance records must now be sent to the school division’s truancy office.

In case of an emergency, it is natural to want to take action. However, it is imperative that you:

• Do not go to the school unless you are contacted by school authorities and asked to do so. Going to the school during an emergency will interfere with the ability of emergency service vehicles to get into and out of the school zone and may compromise the safety of everyone involved in the emergency.
• Do not call the school. It is essential to keep phone lines open so school officials can make outgoing emergency calls. If students are ill or injured, the parents of those students will be notified first. Updates will be made to your emergency contact phone number. Current information may also be posted at HCPS website or to the HCPS Facebook or Twitter pages.

Lost items, including clothing, may be claimed from the Lost and Found carts in the cafeteria. At the end of each semester, items remaining in the Lost and Found will be donated. Please assist us by labeling your child’s clothing, especially jackets and coats, with their first and last name.

• Per the Code of Conduct, all personal belongings kept on school property (including on school buses and all other vehicles used for pupil transportation), brought to school-sponsored events, or brought to bus stops will be at the sole risk of the owner. HCPS will not accept responsibility for damage, loss, or theft of any personal belongings on school property, brought to school-sponsored events, or brought to bus stops. This includes damage, loss, or theft to bicycles, motorbikes, motorcycles, motor vehicles, musical instruments, cell phones, electronic devices, clothing, shoes, glasses, and all other personal belongings. Owners shall not assume that personal property will be replaced or repaired by HCPS.

All Henrico County Public Schools students are provided student Smart Cards to wear and use at school every day. These cards are designed to streamline and simplify various parts of the school day, while making school environments safer and more secure. The cards bring together a handful of processes and make them all accessible with a quick scan or tap.

• Students are expected to wear their HCPS student ID badge daily in a visible place for essential operational services (such as riding the bus, attendance tracking, purchasing lunch, and checking out library books).
• Families are expected to ensure that students wear their student ID badge daily and use and replace it per HCPS procedures. If a badge is lost or stolen, the student should report the lost or broken Smart Card to their school, and library staff will print a new card and replacement cards as needed. The first replacement card is free, but there will be a $5 fee for any additional replacements. The fee covers the cost of producing the new card.

Homework can be used very effectively to provide practice for skill development. Provisions should be made to promote good work habits, increase self-direction and self-responsibility, and to include resources in the community as a part of the students' education. The following recommendations are given regarding homework for different age groups:

• Kindergarten: No specific time allotment; opportunities for reading readiness enrichment and language awareness should be encouraged
• Grades 1 and 2:30 minutes per evening
• Grade 3:40 minutes per evening
• Grades 4 and 5:60 minutes per evening

The most effective use of your time with your child at home is to engage with your student in these actions daily:

• Read nightly
  • Read material that interests your student (cookbooks, novels, magazines, articles, graphic novels)
  • Talk about what your student reads each night. Encourage your child to make connections between what they read and what they already know.
  • Students benefit from writing about what they read. This does not need to be long. Try, “Write down the part of the story that you enjoyed the most and why you enjoyed it. I’ll read it after dinner and we can talk about it” or, “Write down what you would have done differently in their situation. I’m interested to hear about why you think that!”
• Practice basic math routines nightly
  • Kindergarten students can practice counting forward and backwards, counting groups of items, and identifying attributes of everyday objects around the house
  • 1st and 2nd grade students can practice counting in multiples (2, 5, 10, etc.), completing basic addition and subtraction facts, and telling time
  • 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will get the most benefit from memorizing their multiplication facts (and division facts once they are in 5th grade), telling elapsed time (how much time has passed), and adding and subtracting fractions
• Build background knowledge
  • Kids who have background knowledge about any topic tend to experience better academic outcomes and achieve beyond expectations
  • Take students to new places - they don’t have to be far or cost money! Try new museums, parks, festivals, and restaurants. Read the signs and plaques in each location - learn alongside them if you don’t know the information yourself. 
  • When having conversation with your child, model engagement with them:
    • Make sure to allow plenty of wait time for children to process what you are saying, think about it, and answer
    • Listen to the children’s responses. Use active listening strategies: make eye contact, encourage children to share their ideas, and restate or summarize what they say
    • Ask another question or make a comment after the child answers. If you aren’t sure how to respond, you can almost always say, “What else can we add to that?” or “Tell me more about that.”

It is important for families to understand that grades are a reflection of a student’s progress towards mastery of grade-level standards. They are not to be used as an indicator of good behavior or work habits - there is a separate grade given for each of those areas. The following designations are to be used in the grading of students in elementary schools:

• The following Four Point Scale is utilized for Kindergarten and 1st Grade:
  • 4: Student’s performance exceeds standard/expectation and student consistently produces outstanding work
  • 3: Student’s performance meets standard/expectation and student consistently produces quality work
  • 2: Student’s performance is approaching standard/expectation and student inconsistently applies learned skills
  • 1: Student’s performance is below standard/expectation and student frequently requires re-teaching
  • * Asterisk in front of grade indicates instruction was modified
  • X Indicates area of difficulty (sub-topics only)
• The following grading scale is utilized for Grades 2, 3, 4 and 5:
  • A = 90-100 Excellent
  • B = 80-89 Very Good
  • C = 70-79 Satisfactory
  • D = 65-69 Marginal Progress
  • F = below 65 Failing
  • X Indicates area of difficulty (sub-topics only)

While time lost from school can never be made up fully, students whose absences have been excused pursuant to HCPS Board Policy 6-02-005, Absences and Excuses, should have the opportunity to make up work which is of a written nature or which can be done independently. If grades were taken on the work which was missed, students who had excused absences shall receive full credit for make-up work.

The School Board of Henrico County is committed to ensuring the success of all students in grades PK 12. The Board recognizes circumstances may arise that prohibit students from functioning at their highest level. Therefore, Support to Succeed has been created to help students understand the impact of failure and how to correct mistakes.

• Kindergarten and first-grade instruction and assessment utilize a developmentally appropriate approach, which includes embedded opportunities to reassess and measure student progress. Therefore, this section is not applicable to kindergarten or first-grade students.
• Any student in grades 2-12 who earns a D or an F on a test can remediate with the teacher and opt to be reassessed one time per test. The reassessment can be done in a multitude of developmentally appropriate ways as determined by the teacher. Reassessment methods may include, but are not limited to, taking a different  test, submitting a project/alternative assignment or a writing sample, conducting a formalized test correction procedure, etc. This re-test procedure does not apply to diagnostic assessments (which are not counted as part of a student grade), semester and/or final exams.
• Teachers of students in grades 2-9 are responsible for making students and parents/legal guardians aware of reassessment options following a D or an F on an eligible test. The student shall be reassessed unless the parent/ legal guardian declines the opportunity and opts to keep the original test grade.
• Teachers are expected to offer remediation and a retest within two weeks of the request for a retest. Students requesting a reassessment must do so within one week of receiving the grade. For any student, the highest grade attainable to replace the original test grade is 70%. The test grade used will be the higher of the two scores, not to exceed 70%.

Part of Section 1112(e)(2) of ESSA states that parents of students in Title I schools have a right to request state or division policies regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by ESSA, including any policy, procedure, or parental right to opt students out of such assessments. If you have questions about this topic, contact our Site Testing Coordinator, Taleesa Meeks (tjmeeks@henrico.k12.va.us).

All students enrolled in Virginia public schools are expected to take the applicable state tests. The Virginia Board of Education Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia note: “In kindergarten through eighth grade, where the administration of Virginia assessment program tests are required by the Board of Education, each student shall be expected to take the tests” and “each student in middle and secondary schools shall take all applicable end-of-course SOL tests following course instruction” (8VAC20-132-40).

The Virginia regulations do not provide for what is sometimes referred to as an “opt-out policy” for students regarding the Virginia assessments. If parents refuse to have their student participate in one or more of the required Virginia assessments, they should be aware that their student’s state assessment score report will reflect a score of “0” for any test that is refused.