Student Services
Attendance Services
Regular school attendance is an essential part of a student's learning process and a necessary means to graduating with a good education. Students who are frequently absent may be putting their futures in jeopardy by falling behind in academics and missing important socialization concepts that enhance their ability to understand and follow directions. Chronic absenteeism, especially truancy, is a behavior that is highly associated with dropping out of school.
Objective
To maintain first-rate attendance and raise the academic performance of each student.
Mission Statement
The Attendance Staff works closely with students, parents, school personnel, and the community to remove barriers that affect student attendance in school.
SC Compulsory School Attendance Law
All parents or guardians shall cause their children or wards who are in the age group of five to sixteen years, inclusive, to regularly attend a public or private school or kindergarten of this State which has been approved by the State Board of Education or a member school of the South Carolina Independent Schools’ Association or some similar organization, or a parochial, denominational, or church-related school,or other programs which have been approved by the State Board of Education; provided, further, that any parent or guardian which child or ward is not six years of age on or before the first day of September of a particular school year may elect for their child or ward not to attend kindergarten. For this purpose, the parent or guardian must sign a written document making such election with the governing body of the school district wherein the parent or the guardian resides. The form of this written document shall be prescribed by regulation of the Department of Education. Upon such a written election being executed, that child or ward may not be required to attend kindergarten.
Spanish Version
Ley de Asistencia obligatoria para las escuelas de SC
Todos los padres o tutores deben encausar a sus hijos o protegidos que estén entre los cinco y dieciséis años inclusive, para que asistan a una escuela ya sea publica o privada, o un kindergarten que haya sido aprobado por el Directorio de Educación del Estado, o que sea miembro de la Asociación de Escuelas Independientes de Carolina del Sur o alguna organización similar, ya sea parroquial o relacionada a alguna iglesia o cualquier otro programa que haya sido aprobada por el Directorio de Educación del Estado. Cualquier padre o tutor que tenga un niño que no haya cumplido los seis años al primero de Septiembre de cualquier año escolar, puede optar por no mandarlo a kindergarten. Para este efecto el padre o tutor debe firmar un documento con el departamento correspondiente en el distrito escolar donde reside estableciendo esta decisión. El formulario de dicho documento debe cumplir con las regulaciones del Departamento de Educación. Una vez completo este tramite el niño no tendrá la obligación de asistir a kindergarten.
Contact Us
Ken Arnold
Director of Attendance / Social Work
Phone - (864) 355-2064
E-mail - karnold@greenville.k12.sc.us
Tracie Mills
Secretary
355-2080
Fax: 355-2062
Drew Perry
Dropout Prevention Specialist
355-2065 - Office
304-6545 - Mobile
Student Services - Attendance Rules
Attendance Rules for Greenville County Schools
Regular school attendance is an essential part of a child’s learning process and vital to graduating with a good education. Students who are frequently absent may be putting their futures in jeopardy by falling behind in academics and missing important socialization. Chronic absenteeism is a behavior that is strongly associated with dropping out of school.
In South Carolina, all children are required to attend a public or private school or kindergarten beginning at age five (5) and continuing until their 17th birthday. If a parent chooses not to send their children to kindergarten, a waiver must be signed. Waivers may be obtained at the local school. Parents also have the option of home schooling their children provided the requirements for home schooling are met.
In accordance with the Compulsory School Attendance Law and S.C. Code of Regulations, uniform rules have been adopted to ensure that students attend school regularly. Students are expected to attend school each day and are counted present only when they are actually in school, on homebound instruction, or are present at an activity authorized by the school principal.
Elementary / Middle School Absences
The school year consists of 180 days. To receive credit, students must attend at least 170 days of each year, as well as meet the minimum requirements for each course. Accrued student absences may not exceed 10 days during the school year. The first 10 absences may be lawful, unlawful, or a combination. Any absence in excess of 10 may cause the student to lose credit for the year.
A. Lawful Absences
- Absences caused by a student's own illness* and whose attendance in school would endanger his or her health or the health of others.
- *Verified by a statement from a physician within two (2) days of the student's return to school. Absences for CHRONIC or EXTENDED illness will be approved only when verified by a physician's statement.
- Absences due to an illness or death in the student's immediate family verified by a statement from the parent within two (2) days of the student's return to school.
- Absences due to a recognized religious holiday of the student's faith when approved in advance. Such requests must be made to the principal in writing.
- Absences for students whose parents/guardians are experiencing a military deployment. A principal may grant up to five days of excused absences provided that 1) the absence is preapproved, 2) the student is in good standing, 3) the student has a prior record of good attendance, and 4) missed work is completed and turned in within the school’s allotted time period.
- Absences due to activities that are approved in advance by the principal. This would include absences for extreme hardships. Such approval should be prearranged when possible.
B. Unlawful Absences
- Absences of a student without the knowledge of his or her parents.
- Absences of a student without acceptable cause with the knowledge of his or her parents.
- Suspension is not to be counted as an unlawful absence for truancy purposes.
C. Truancy
Although the state requires students to only attend 170 of the 180 day school year, parents and students should be aware that S.C. Code of Regulations - Chapter 43-274 stipulates that a child ages 6 to 17 years is considered truant when the child has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences.
D. Tardiness
Punctuality is one of the most important skills that a person can learn. It directly correlates to an individual’s success in the business world. Parents should have students at school on time each day. Furthermore, secondary students are expected to be in their individual classes on time. Late arrival (tardiness) results in interruptions to the learning process – not only for the tardy student but for other students in the class as well. Additionally, the tardy student misses important instruction. Each school has guidelines for the disciplinary consequences for tardiness.
What Do I Do If My Child Refuses To Go To School?
First, call the attendance clerk at your child’s school and report the problem. If your child continues to miss school unlawfully, an administrator from your child’s school will schedule an intervention conference with you and your child. At that time a plan will be devised to improve your child's attendance. If your child continues to miss school unlawfully, his/her case will be referred to an attendance supervisor or social worker. The attendance supervisor or social worker will convene a conference with you and your child regarding his/her attendance problem. If your child continues to miss school unlawfully, the case may be referred to Family Court for further intervention.