In accordance with the Code of Virginia § 22.1-254, a child who has reached his/her fifth birthday on or before September 30 of any school year and has not passed their eighteenth birthday, must attend school.
Furthermore, the Code of Virginia § 22.1-258 requires notification of non-attendance to the attendance officer. Whenever a pupil fails to report to school for a total of five scheduled days for the school year, the pupil is in violation of compulsory attendance, and notification to the attendance officer may be initiated. Violation of compulsory attendance refers to absences that are unexcused. To comply with the Code of Virginia § 22.1-262, having more than six unexcused absences could result in a complaint being filed with the Middlesex County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.