501.10R1 TRUANCY - UNEXCUSED ABSENCES REGULATION

Excessive Absenteeism

6th Non­Excused Absence­ Warning letter notifying parent/guardian that their 6 verifiable days have been reached and requesting documentation for any further absences.
9th Non­Excused Absence­ Phone contact and possible home visit

12th Non­Excused Absence­ Mandatory Attendance Meeting with At­Risk Coordinator and Administrator: parent or guardian will be served notice & County Attorney will be provided a copy of the notice.  Continued Non­Excused Absences­ Referred for legal action by the County Attorney.

*High School Absence Policy: Students who acquire a total of 15 absences (unexcused) per semester in any particular course may be subjected to the loss of credit for that course.

Excessive Absenteeism, Appeals Process, & Application of Sanctions

1. Suspensions from class [either in­school suspensions or out­of­school suspension] will be treated as school­ initiated student absences and will not count toward the days absent. However, the student will be required to make up work missed while in suspension. In the event that the work is not completed at the end of the suspension, a time will be designated by the principal to make up the work (guided study, before/after school, Saturday school, additional suspension, etc.).

2. School work missed because of absences must be made up within two times the number of days absent, not to exceed 6 days. The time allowed for make­up work may be extended at the discretion of the classroom teacher.

3. Application of Sanctions

1. Unexcused and excused absences will not be added together to count towards application of sanctions.

2. Excessive unexcused absences will result in the following:

If a student is absent more than 15 days unexcused from any given class in a semester, the student may not be eligible to receive credit from that class.

If a student loses credit, that fact is recorded in the student's record as an ("AD") [Administrative drop], or “AW"[administrative withdrawal). Students who are absent without a reasonable excuse, as determined by the principal, will be assigned to [guided study hall, detention, early bird school, Saturday school, in­school suspension, or other appropriate disciplinary sanction]. Reasonable excuses include reasons listed under General Attendance Policy.

A student who loses credit due to excessive absences may be assigned to [guided study hall, detention, early bird school, Saturday school, in­school suspension, alternative school or other appropriate disciplinary sanction] for the period(s) in which the course(s) meet or the student may be reassigned to another class or location. A student who, after a hearing before the board, loses credit in all courses due to unexcused absences, will not be allowed to participate in any school activities until the following semester. However, the student is eligible to practice if all other eligibility criteria have been met.

Appeals
First level of appeal

1. When notified that the student has missed 6 (days or class periods), the parent should contact the teacher and principal to discuss the student's attendance and prevent any further absences.

2. When notified that the student has exceeded 12 absences and that the student may be dropped from a class, the student and parent may file a written appeal with the building administrator within 5 school days of the notification. Sanctions imposed under this policy will be final unless a written appeal is submitted to the building administrator.

3. Written appeals will be referred to the building administrator

4. The student will remain in the class or in school pending completion of the appeals process.

5. The informal appeals hearing will be scheduled within 10 school days after the appeal is filed. The SAT will consider

   the following in reaching a decision:

1. absences caused by religious holidays, documented chronic or extended illness, hospitalization, family death or

   emergency, emergency medical or dental care, court appearances or other legal situations beyond the control of the

   family, school­related class or program activities;

2. attendance history of the student;

3. extenuating circumstances particular to the student;

4. educational alternatives to removal from class or school; or the total educational program for the individual student.

1. The decision of the SAT will be reached within one day of the hearing. The parent will be notified of the decision in writing.

Second Level of Appeal

Students and parents seeking a review of the SAT decision regarding sanctions rendered under this attendance policy may do so by filing a written request for review with the superintendent within five days after the SAT decision.
The superintendent will determine an agreeable time, place and date for the review and notify the student and parent. At the conclusion of the review, the superintendent will affirm, reverse or modify the SAT decision.

Appeal to Board of Directors

Students and parents may appeal the superintendent's decision by filing a written request for review by the board within five days with the board secretary. It is within the discretion of the board to determine whether to hear the appeal. If the appeal is accepted, the board secretary will determine an agreeable time, place and date for the review and notify the interested persons. At the conclusion of the review, the board may affirm, reverse or modify the superintendent's decision.