Attendance Policy
What parents and students need to know
As standards are raised, students really can't afford to miss school. Even the best students will quickly fall behind when attendance drops or there is chronic tardiness. Parent support on this is essential.
Written Excuses Are Now Required Within Three Days
Students in grades K-12 who are absent from school must submit a written excuse, signed by a parent/legal guardian, within three days of the student's return to school or their school attendance record will permanently reflect an unexcused absence after this time. (In other words, no backdating of excuses will be allowed after three days.) The excuse should indicate the reason for and the date(s) of the absence. Please also note that phone calls to the school notifying staff of a child's absence that day do NOT replace the need for a written note when the child returns.
Denial of Course Credit for Chronic Unexcused Absences/Tardiness/Early Departures
In grades 9-12, students may not be awarded course credit in any class that is required for graduation if they miss more than 15% of class time due to unexcused absences/tardiness/early departures. Class attendance is now taken on a period-by-period basis. Taking into account the move to a block schedule at the high school, the maximum number of unexcused absences will now be as follows:
-
27* for full credit courses that meet every day
-
13* for full credit courses that meet every other day
-
22* for full credit science courses with a lab
-
6* for half-credit courses that meet every other day
*Please note that the maximum allowable
unexcused absences as shown above reflects changes made for the
2008-09 school year.
For summer school, the same policy will apply and a calculation of
absences will be prorated accordingly.
The Difference Between "Excused" and "Unexcused"
Absences, tardiness and early departures will be considered excused or unexcused according to the following standards:
Excused: Absences due to personal illness, family illness or death, medical/dental appointments, impassable roads due to inclement weather, religious observance, quarantine, required court appearances, approved college visits, approved cooperative work programs, military obligations or other special circumstances approved by the district.
Unexcused: Any absence that does not fit the above categories, e.g., family vacation, hunting, babysitting, hair cut, obtaining a learner's permit, taking a road test, oversleeping, etc.
The bottom line? Daily attendance counts! Teachers will tell you that learning happens when students are engaged with ideas, allowed to interact intellectually with other students, and provided support and direction. This is not something that can occur in a make-up class or when the student is home alone. Even the occasional class-cutter runs the risk of missing critical class time that can make a significant difference in his or her grades. And once a student starts to fall behind, they feel less confident, which makes it more likely that they will intentionally miss still more classes. The result is a pattern that undermines their chances for school success. Teachers stress that good attendance not only improves test scores, it also leads to better learning every day.
