Attendance PHILOSOPHY
It is the philosophy of this school that
students need to be in regular attendance of all of their classes in order for
learning to be maximized. Failure to keep regular attendance might be
responsible for lowered grade point averages, a drop in class standing, a
failure to obtain scholarships, an inability to be accepted into post-secondary
education of choice, not being able to graduate within the customary four years
of high school, being removed from a class, or poor recommendations to future
employers. Students should be aware of these possible consequences. Learning to
regularly attend and to be on time is a tool which is not only beneficial in
school but will help students to be successful in college as well as business.
Through the cooperative efforts of
parents and the school, each student will develop positive attendance habits
and attitudes which will be helpful to his/her present and future endeavors.
When a student has missed ten (10) or
more classes in any semester, this equates to more than 10% of the total class
time. It is the feeling of the Board and District staff members that academic
success is directly related to the amount of time spent in class, and there are
valuable lessons that are lost when a student is not in attendance. Each
student has the responsibility to contribute to the academic exchange that
occurs in the classroom. When any student is absent, a loss occurs for the
student. Also, fellow class members are deprived of this important aspect of
the overall instruction. Although a student may be absent up to ten (10) times
before the loss of credit occurs, students are encouraged to use absences as
designed in the work place, for illness and family emergency.
POLICY
To support this philosophy the following
attendance policy has been developed:
A. Students
will be allowed ten (10) days per class per semester, for illness and family
emergency. No differentiation will be made between excused and unexcused
absences. For these ten (10) days the student will be allowed a day for each
day missed to complete make-up work. Students who have been absent for more
that ten (10) times in any one subject may lose credit.
School
Absences
School-sponsored or school-required
absences will not affect attendance requirements. These types of absences will
be treated as though the student were in class.
B. Parents
are encouraged to call, send a note or doctor appointment card to the office
for each absence. If a student has an emergency absence from school, his/her
parent should call the school office as soon as this intent is known and inform
school officials as to the reason and the expected length of the absence. When
the absence has been noted, the student or parent should contact each teacher
and arrange for classwork to be completed and
submitted prior to the absence. By following this procedure, the student will
lessen the impact of the absence.
C. Intervention
will occur as follows:
1. Parent Link will call about all
unreported absences.
2. After the fifth absence per semester,
the high school office shall send written notification to the student and
parent stating the class or classes which the student has been absent from for
five (5) times, specifically notifying the parent and the student of the
importance of attendance.
3. After the seventh (7) absence per
semester, the high school office shall again send written notification to the
student and parent stating the class or classes which the student has been
absent for seven (7) times.
4. After the eighth (8), ninth (9), tenth
(10), and eleventh (11) absences per semester, the assistant principal will
call the student to the office to make sure the student is aware of their
absences. It is the student's responsibility to come to the office when called
over the public address. If the student is at eleven (11) absences, the
attendance appeal process will be explained and the student will be given the
option to set up an appeal. After the student has been absent for ten (10)
times for any class or classes during the semester, the parent and student
shall be given a final written notice of the number of absences and that any
further absences may result in loss of credit in that class for the semester.
5. Any student who is absent
from class more that ten (10) times may request an attendance hearing to keep
the class credit. The student may be allowed to remain in class pending the
hearing. The hearing shall be scheduled within three (3) school days
beginning with the day the student misses his/her eleventh class. The student
and his/her parents shall be required to attend the hearing along with an
attendance appeal committee. This committee may consist of administration,
counselors, teachers, parents and students. If the student can demonstrate that
the absences were due to extenuating circumstances that could not be prevented
including hospitalization, required medical, dental, orthodontal,
or optometric care that could not be scheduled after school, serious illness,
family emergency or other emergency which the appeal committee believes
warrants continuation of class credit, then the committee may grant an
exception to the attendance policy. As a condition to granting these
exceptions, students and parents may be required to enter into a written
agreement regarding future attendance. Unless otherwise provided for in the
written agreement by the parents and students, any subsequent absence shall
result in loss of credit, however, the student may request a subsequent
attendance hearing, with the principal in which, the same procedures as set
forth above shall be followed.
6. In the event of the committee's
determination to withhold credit from a student under this policy, and
subsequent to an attendance hearing, the parents, if they have complied with
the attendance hearing process may appeal the committee's decision to
the principal, superintendent, and then to
the board of trustees. In the event the parents and/or student desire to appeal
the committee's determination, they shall do so in writing to the
superintendent within five (5) days after the final determination of the
committee. The board shall hear the appeal at their next regularly scheduled
board meeting following receipt of the notice of appeal unless the matter is
scheduled to be heard earlier at a special meeting. The board shall hear the
appeal by allowing both sides to discuss the circumstances of the absences with
the board and to call whatever witnesses either side desires. While the appeal
is pending, the student shall be permitted to remain in the class. The board's
determination shall be final.
D. A
full days attendance is required before a student is
eligible to participate in any extra-curricular activity. If the activity is on
Saturday or a non-school day, the student must be in school all day the day
before the activity. Pre-approved absence must be of medical or family
emergency. (Permission may be granted by the administration during special
circumstances.)
E. Students
must check out through the main office when leaving school during
the day. Failure to report to the office will result in truancy regulations
being enforced. (Permission may be granted by the administration during special
circumstances.)
F. A
student will be allowed two (2) tardies per class for each nine week period.
Each teacher will have a participation grade that will be included in the students grade for each nine week period. Beginning with the
third tardy during any nine week period, the participation grade will be
affected. The participation grade may count up to five (5) percent of the students grade. Those students who abuse the tardy policy
may be subject to further consequences determined by the teacher. This could
include closed campus during lunch for excessive tardies.
Homebound Instruction
After an absence of five (5) consecutive
days, a special request for home study must be made by the parents with the
principal, for those students who have a serious illness or accident. If
such a program is arranged, days of homebound instruction count as days in
attendance. Homebound instruction will require a doctor's (M.D.)
recommendation.
Student Visitors
Students who would like to have a
visiting student accompany them to their classrooms, must have permission from
one of the principals at least 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE
VISIT. In addition, students must have permission from each of their
classroom teachers. Visitors may only accompany a student for half a day,
periods 1-4 or 5-7. Students are responsible for their guest and their guest's
behavior while visiting
