ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

Regular attendance is vital to the academic success of students. Students absent for lawful or excused reasons will be allowed make up work in accordance with the make-up policy.  Board Policy 6.200 states that conditions for which a student’s absence may be excused are as follows:

1.     Illness of the student.  The principal may require a doctor’s statement.

2.     Illness in the immediate family which requires absence of the student from school.  The      principal may require a doctor’s statement.

3.     Death in the immediate family of the student (should not exceed 5 days).

4.     Religious holidays regularly observed by persons of the student’s faith.  The principal may require a statement from the minister or other person recognized by the given religious group.

5.     Absences for other reasons may be excused if, in the judgment of the principal, the circumstances warrant.

Attendance Procedures

1.        Pre-Arranged Absences – Absences not defined by county policy must be pre-arranged and approved by the Attendance office one week prior to the absence.  A letter stating the dates and the purpose of the absence should be submitted to the Attendance office.  The Assistant Principal will review the student’s attendance and grades to decide whether to grant the request.  If the request is approved, the Attendance office will provide an absence form for each teacher to initial prior to the trip.  It is the student’s responsibility to request and return all make-up work as designated by their teachers.  No additional note is needed when the student returns to school after completing the pre-arranged absence unless the numbers of absent days change.  In general, a 95% attendance rate with no unexcused absences or suspensions is needed before the request will be granted.

2.        College visits must be pre-approved with a note from the parent prior to the visit and proof of visit from the college brought to attendance upon return.

3.        Parents should phone the Attendance office (472-4280) 8:00 -10:00 A.M. on the day the student is absent.  The fax number in the attendance office is (472-4281).

4.        All excused absences require a written notice within three days of the absence regardless of whether the Attendance office was notified by phone or confirmed by the Attendance office by phone.  The note should include: the date of absence, grade level of the student, reason, and a number where a parent/guardian can be reached during the day.

5.        The student’s planner will be stamped on the date that an excused or unexcused absence is obtained.  This is the only record the student will receive of an excused absence and should keep it as a “receipt” of the excused absence.  

Note:  Although a Doctor’s statement may be required at any time for an absence to be excused, it will be required of any student that accumulates 10 or more absences of any kind.

COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAWS:

·          If a student has a total of  2-3 unexcused absences, a “warning letter of compulsory attendance law” should be sent to the parent and a conference should be held with the parent.  This is in state law 49-6-3007 (i) 1,2

·          If a student has a total of 5 unexcused absences, a “compulsory attendance law letter” must be sent to the parent.  This is in state law 49-6-3007 (e) 1,2,3

·          If the student continues to be absent 3 days from the date of the compulsory attendance law letter, then an unruly court petition for truancy must be filed.  This is in state law 49-6-3007 (e) 1,2,3

·          If a student misses ten consecutive or fifteen total unexcused absences during any semester then the school must send a letter to the department of transportation.  (Driver’s License revoked)  Board Policy 6.200, lines 9 & 10 as well as state law 49-6-3017 (f)

·          Any student over 18 years of age that accrues 10 consecutive absences or 15 total unexcused absences will be withdrawn under state law.  They may be re-enrolled only with permission of the principal.

TARDY POLICY

A student is tardy if he/she is not in the room when the bell rings to begin class.  The tardy count will be by Semester.  A student who is ten (10) minutes or more late to class and is unexcused has the consequences of skipping or cutting a class.  Car trouble is not an excusable reason for being Tardy to school.

EARLY DISMISSALS

Any student with an early dismissal must report to the attendance office for an early dismissal before going to their first period class.  No phone in or faxed requests will be honored due to security issues.  A parent or guardian must come to school to have a child released if request is not submitted prior to 7:30 AM.

CHECKING OUT OF SCHOOL--ILLNESS AT SCHOOL

The school is liable for students during the school day; therefore, students leaving during the school day for any reason must check out with the attendance office.  Students who become ill at school and must go home shall report to the clinic.  No phone requests for dismissals due to illness will be accepted unless approved by the nurse or the parent who comes and checks out the student.  The school will contact parents/guardians to arrange transportation.  All attendance requirements also pertain to eighteen year old students.  Students may not excuse themselves from school.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Unexcused absences will result in a zero or its equivalent on any graded assignment or assignment due on the date of the absence (County Policy 6.200). Skipping School – Any student who is absent from class for an unacceptable reason is considered to be skipping and the absence is unexcused.  Lunch and directed studies are considered class periods.  The penalty for skipping will result in ISS and/or loss of parking privileges.  Skipping during exam week will bring about an ISS assignment at the beginning of the next semester.  Repeated violators may be referred to Juvenile Court and the ALC.  Seniors are reminded that any type of suspension means a loss of exam exemptions.  Tardiness to class for more than 10 minutes is considered skipping and unexcused for that period.

MAKE-UP POLICY

The student must take responsibility to get assignments when absent.  It is recommended that the student go to his/her teacher before or after school if the student cannot obtain adequate information from classmates. For excused absences of 1 to 3 days, the student will have three days to complete all makeup work.  For absences of four or more days, as a minimum the student will have the number of days missed plus (+1).  The student must meet with the teacher upon return to develop a plan for completing the assigned work.  If a student misses one day and returns on test day, then the student should have an extra day to make up the work.  However, if the test was announced prior to the absence and the student returns on test day, the student should take the test on the scheduled day.  Likewise any work assigned before the absence is due on the day of return to school.

FIELD TRIPS

 It is the students’ responsibility to notify his teacher of an absence prior to the field trip and to obtain assignments for the day(s) he/she will be out of class.  At this time the teacher will give the date the assignments will be due.  If the test, assignment or quiz has been scheduled prior to the field trip, the student is required to take the test no later than the day of his return.  Failure to follow these procedures may result in a zero on the work missed.  Students with prearranged absences must consult their teachers about assignments in advance.  Students with unexcused absences will not be allowed to make up grades for work missed or due on the dates of absence.

Updated 2/14/08