2017-2018 Student Handbook

5. The school principal shall notify the Attendance Officer of students accumulating six total absences if no direct parent contact (in person or by telephone) has been achieved by school personnel. 6. Students accumulating seven total days of absence may be referred to the School Social Worker for intervention services if the efforts of school personnel have not been successful in improving the student’s attendance and/or there are other concerns noted.* 7. Parent/guardian will be notified by school letter when a student has accumulated nine total days of absence under the Block schedule (Grades 8-12) or ten total days of absence under the Regular daily schedule (Grades K-7). The letter will request a conference in person with the parent/guardian at this time to obtain an explanation for the absences and discuss an attendance contract. 8. Students accumulating fifteen or more total days absent may be referred by the Attendance Officer to the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Service Unit Counselors, and/or be charged with a violation of the compulsory school attendance laws. Also, needed services may be provided for the student as provided by the law. *Please see “Warning Signs of Concern in Students Who Are Frequently Absent or Tardy” available from the School Social Worker. B. Academic credit: The system wide policy regarding the monitoring of student absences on a regular daily schedule or on a block schedule in relation to withholding credit shall be as follows: 1. Regular daily schedule (Grades K-7): After more than twenty days of absence, students will not receive academic credit for the year. 2. Block schedule (Grades 8-12): After more than eight class periods of absence, students will not receive academic credit for that course during the semester. C. Report for Suspension of Driver’s License: If a student who is under 18 years of age has 10 or more unexcused absences from school on consecutive school days, the principal may notify the juvenile and domestic relations court, which may take action to suspend the student’s driver’s license. IV. Parent/Guardian Responsibilities A. The following steps should be followed when a student is absent: 1. Parent/guardian will call the school during the morning on the day of absence. 2. Parent/guardian will write an excuse giving the student's name, day(s) of absence and reason for absence to be presented upon arrival on the day of return to school. 3. Excused absences shall include: a. Notes from doctor, dentist, or counselor: must include time and date of visit b. Court note c. Funeral note d. Other absences may be excused upon request by guardians and administration approval. B. When a student has a history of illness the following procedure applies: (NOTE: Under Block schedule, instructional time missed due to tardies or early dismissals will be tallied until the equivalent of a 90-minute class period is accumulated and will then be added to the student’s total of absence for that particular class period.)

Parent/guardian will notify the school in writing at the beginning of every school year or as necessary about the student's long-term illness(es) and/or short-term medical problems which may affect attendance.

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