Attendance Policy

Valid Excused Absences are an illness, which may be either mental or physical; a family death; an absence permitted by a school age minor’s individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan; a family emergency; a family event; observance of religious holiday; medical appointment; pre-approved education/vacation leave.

• Students will be expected to obtain make-up work from their teacher and to complete make-up work and assignments within assigned timeframe.
  • A student’s academic grade should not be penalized for absences or tardies.
• Teachers will be responsible for providing students with make-up work and identifying a reasonable deadline for completion.

Illness or Medical Appointment

1. Parent provides a note from a health care provider to the front office.
2. School front office staff records absence as E-DR.

Family Death, Family Emergency, Religious Holiday

1. Parent provides notification to the school that the student will be absent.
   1. For students who have NOT missed 10 percent or more of the school year, parent notification (e.g. call, email) will be accepted for documentation of absence.
   2. For students who have missed 10 percent or more of the school year, additional documentation in addition to parent notification will be required (e.g. obituary, wedding announcement)
2. School front office staff will record the absence using the appropriate school code (i.e. E-B, E-CT, E-R, E-FE).

Related to IEP or Section 504 Plan

1. IEP or 504 Team identifies and documents in student plan specific criteria for excused student absences (e.g. doctor’s note identifies chronic medical illness, parent calls when student is absent due to chronic illness)
2. IEP or 504 case manager communicates these criteria to front office staff.
3. Parent provides notification to the school that the student is absent due to pre-identified individual student needs.
4. School front office staff will record the absence using the appropriate school code.

Procedure for Education/Vacation Leave

A student may be allowed up to ten (10) days for education/vacation leave in a given school year, if prior arrangements have been made with the school for the student to make up his/her homework.

1. Prior to education leave, parents complete an Education Leave/Vacation Form for approval.
2. Teachers will complete Work to Be Completed section and determine a reasonable due date.
3. School administration will verify education leave.  If education leave exceeds 10 days within one school year, school administration will communicate with their School Performance Director to determine is approval of additional days may be granted.
4. Students will complete work assigned by teacher and submit within the identified timeframe.

Unexcused Absence: If a parent fails to make prior arrangements with the principal for extended student absences and if the school cannot locate the parent or student to verify the reason for the student’s prolonged absence, the student’s absence is unexcused.

• Students with unexcused absences may be able to make-up work subject to approval by the principal.