Irregular attendance and tardiness by students not only slows their progress, but also interferes with the progress of those who are regular and prompt in attendance. The district realizes that a student's limited academic success may be the cause of attendance problems. This policy sets the following expectations for student attendance policies and rules.
- ABSENCE
- The following absences will be excused, providing the excuse has been provided by the parent or guardian in advance of the absence, or at the time of personal illness, or by the next school day:
- Personal illness
- Family death or emergency
- Medical appointments which must be made during school time.
- Court appearance if validated by the assigned time on the ticket and the appearance is validated by the Clerk of the Magistrate Court and/or District Court.
- Family trips and other extended absences which can be justified from an educational standpoint. These must be approved by the principal/designee well in advance and arrangements made with each teacher involved for the make-up of work to be missed.
- School initiated absence (no parent excuse required).
- The following absences will be treated as unexcused:
- Any absence not properly excused before the occurrence, or at the time in the case of personal illness. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify the school if a student is to be absent and the absence is to be excused. However, to satisfy a mutual concern of parents/guardians and the school for the welfare of unaccounted-for students, the office will contact parents/guardians should a student be found absent for whom no parent excuse has been received. This call will be to confirm the whereabouts of the student.
- Leaving the building during the day without parental excuse and authorization of the principal's office.
- UNEXCUSED ABSENCE
- Following the first unexcused absence from a class(es) during a calendar year,
- The student and his/her parent/guardian will be contacted to review school policy and procedure.
- Truant students will not be given credit for work in the class during the unexcused absence, but may be required by the teacher to complete it as part of the class requirements.
- Following the second unexcused absence from class(es):
- A conference between the student, the student's parent/guardian, and an administrator or counselor will be held.
- Truant students will not be given credit for work missed in the class during the unexcused absence, but may be required to complete it as part of the requirements.
- Following the first unexcused absence from a class(es) during a calendar year,
- The following absences will be excused, providing the excuse has been provided by the parent or guardian in advance of the absence, or at the time of personal illness, or by the next school day:
- TARDINESS
Tardies are unexcused absences that are 30 minutes or less in nature. Up to three tardies will be given without penalty per school year. After the third tardy, parents/guardians will be notified and a meeting will be held between the principal/designee and the parent/guardian. An attempt to resolve the tardy issue will be made. Unexcused tardies beyond four will be considered truant. These cases will be referred to the County Attorney for mediation or prosecution.
Date of Adoption/Revision:
August 1997
August 2000
July 2003
July 2006
July 2009
July 2010
September 2012
August 2015
