502.1R Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy Regulation

STUDENT PERSONNEL

 

Series 500

 

 

Policy Title: Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy Regulation

Code No.: 502.1R

 

Daily, punctual attendance is an integral part of the learning experience.  The education that goes on in the classroom builds from day to day and absences can cause disruption in the educational progress of the absent student.  Irregular attendance or tardiness by students not only limits their own studies, but also interferes with the progress of those students who are regular and prompt in attendance.  Attendance is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation and communication among students, parents and the school.

 

This regulation is divided into two sections:  Section I addresses legal requirements related to chronic absenteeism and truancy and Section II addresses additional academic, disciplinary and extracurricular consequences students face due to chronic absenteeism and truancy.  It is important for students to recognize that chronic absenteeism and truancy impacts all these facets of their educational experience.

 

SECTION I – Legal Requirements

 

Chronic Absenteeism

When a student meets the threshold to be considered chronically absent, the school official will send notice by mail or e-mail to the county attorney where the district’s central office is located.  The school official will also notify the student, or if a minor the student’s parent, guardian or legal or actual custodian via certified mail that includes information related to the student’s absences from school and the policies and disciplinary processes associated with additional absences. 

 

School officials will send notice when the student’s absences meet 5% of the hours in the grading period as defined by the district the threshold, but before the student is deemed chronically absent.

 

School Engagement Meeting

 

If a student is absent from school for at least fifteen percent of the hours in the grading period of each school as established by the district, the school official will attempt to find the cause of the absences and start a school engagement meeting.  All of the following individuals must participate in the school engagement meeting:

  • The student;
  • The student’s parent, guardian or legal or actual custodian if the student is an unemancipated minor; and
  • A school official.

The purpose of the meeting is to understand the reasons for the student’s absences and attempt to remove barriers to the student’s ongoing absences; and to create and sign an absenteeism prevention plan.

 

 

Absenteeism Prevention Plan

The absenteeism prevention plan will identify the causes of the student’s absences and the future responsibilities of each participant.  The school official will contact the student and student’s parent/guardian at least once per week for the remainder of the school year to monitor the performance of the student and student’s parent/guardian under the plan.  If the student and student’s parent/guardian do not attend the meeting, do not enter into a plan or violate the terms of the plan, the school official will notify the county attorney.

 

SECTION II – Academic and Disciplinary Requirements

 

Section II - Academic and Disciplinary Requirements

In response to chronic absenteeism or truancy, the building principal may issue consequences in addition to the requirements listed in section I of this regulation.  Consequences may include but are not limited to:

  • Oral or written notices beyond the generated absenteeism prevention plan to the student and his or her parents;
  • Conferences with the student and parents,
  • Written contracts with the student and parents,
  • Loss of non-academic privileges such as extracurricular activities, open campus
  • Late work not receiving credit
  • Dropped from course
  • In-school suspension
  • Out of school suspension
  • Other consequences as determined by the building principal

 

 

Date of Adoption/Review/Revision:

 

August 2024