Fairfax County Public Schools are changing their attendance notification policy.
School authorities will begin alerting parents much earlier in the day if their child doesn't show up at school. The school district hopes to improve student safety, not just zero in on students skipping school, officials said.
The school system will launch its new "Keep in touch" program next week. If a student does not report to school, the school will call the student's parent or legal guardian in the morning, and will also send a follow up email.
Right now, schools in Fairfax County wait until 6 p.m. to tell parents their student was absent.
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