Code No. 501.10R1
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Student Personnel
Absences Regulation
Types of Absences
When a student is absent from school, the administrator in charge has sole responsibility for assigning the type of category of that absence. A parent’s note or phone call only indicates the parent’s knowledge of the absence. School records list total absences that distinguish between unexcused and excused absences.
Excused Absence: 1. Personal illness verified by a doctor’s statement. 2. Professional appointments, accompanied by an office card indicating the time and the date of the appointment. 3. Any other absence the administrator deems documented and reasonable, such as serious family crisis or funeral may be excused due to special circumstances.
Unexcused Absence: 1. All absences that occur when a student leaves school without obtaining permission to leave. 2. Any absence not listed under EXCUSED ABSENCE. 3. Truancy, defined as absence from school without permission of the parent or the school. Truancy will carry loss of credit, but the staff may require the student to do additional work or make up additional time. In addition, detention or suspension from school may be administered. Three tardies=one unexcused absence.
School Authorized Absence: Any absence caused when the student attends a school authorized function or event. The student will be responsible for completing all work missed during the absence prior to leaving. School absences will not be included in the student’s record.
Excessive Absences: The Davis County Community School Board has limited the number of days a student can be absent from school to the equivalent of seven (7) unexcused days during a semester.
Notification of the Number of Days of Absences: Parents or guardians will be notified when a student has missed the equivalent of 5 unexcused days of school. Parents or guardians will be notified when a student has missed the equivalent of 6 unexcused days of school. Finally, parents and guardians will be notified again when a student has missed the equivalent of 7 unexcused days of school. In addition to these notifications, student attendance will be available when report cards are issued and at parent request.
Davis County Community Attendance Policy Procedures
Step 1: When a student has missed the equivalent of 5 unexcused days of school within a semester, the principal is responsible for notifying the parent by letter of the Davis County Attendance Policy. In the letter, the parent is advised to obtain documentation justifying any past or future absences.
Code No. 501.10R1
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Step 2A: When a student reaches 6 days of unexcused absence in a single semester, a meeting will be scheduled with the student, administration and parent/guardian.
The purpose of the meeting is to determine the cause of the student’s nonattendance, get the parties to agree to solutions addressing the nonattendance and initiate referrals to any other services necessary. This agreement is then written. The agreement is to include all terms agreed to and future responsibilities of all parties. All parties must sign the agreement. If the parents do not participate in the meeting, if the parties do not enter into an agreement or if the parents violate a term of the agreement it is considered a violation of the process and initiates the next level.
If the student’s family is not receiving FIP benefits, the school official will initiate a 10 day attendance meeting as described in 2B.
Step 2B: (for all students whose families are not receiving FIP benefits) When the student reaches 7 days of unexcused absence in a single semester, the principal is responsible for scheduling a joint meeting with the child, the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian or actual custodian and the county attorney.
Additional details or rules implementing this policy, if needed, may also be found in the building level student handbooks.
Legal Reference: IAC 12.3(6) (2003).
Approved: December 21, 1998
Reviewed: February 19, 2013
Revised: February 19, 2013