North Carolina General Statue 115C-378

Compulsory Attendance

Unexcused Absences

• Daily notification via Connect 5
• 3 days = Parent notified of excessive absences
• 6 days = Parent notified of excessive absences, via mail
• Conference may be requested
• Referral to the school social worker

10 Accumulated Unexcused Absences

• Parent notification by US Mail
• Mandatory meeting may be scheduled before the Judicial Attendance Council

Failure to attend this meeting may result in criminal sanctions or charges of violations of the Compulsory Attendance Law.

If the parent, guardian or custodian has not made a good faith effort to comply with the law, the District Attorney and Department of Social Services shall be notified.

Penalty for Law Violation:

· Any parent, guardian, or other person violating the provisions of the Compulsory Attendance Law is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. (G.S. 115C-380)

Unexcused Absences (may include, but not limited to the following)

• Missing the bus • Babysitting, etc. • Oversleeping • Inclement weather

If a student accumulates an excessive number of excused absences,

which begin to affect his/her academic progress,

the School Social Worker will be notified and the following policy will be implemented.

10 Accumulated Excused Absences

• The teacher will attempt to make contact with the parent/guardian regarding excessive excused absences.
• The Social Worker will become involved if the teacher is unable to make contact.
• If student’s excessive excused absences begin to affect academic progress, the parent will be notified by the Social Worker that doctor’s notes will be required for all future absences. A conference will also be scheduled with the parent/guardian of the student, the Social Worker, classroom teacher, and administrator to discuss the policy. Any absences after this point that are not accompanied with a doctor’s note will be coded as unexcused.
• If the student reaches 10 unexcused absences the Social Worker will determine if the parent/guardian will go before the Juvenile Attendance Council.

Excused Absences

Satisfactory evidence of…

(provide documentation to the teacher, upon the student’s return to school)

• Illness or Injury

• Death in the immediate family of the child

• Medical or Dental Appointment (note from the doctor)

• Court or administrative proceedings

• Religious observance

• Absence related to deployment activities

• Educational opportunity (prior approval must be granted by the principal)

Arriving Late or Early Dismissal

• Elementary students must be accompanied by parent/guardian inside the school
• Excessive tardiness/early dismissals reported to the social worker
• Continued non-compliance may result in notification of:
• Department of Social Services
• District Attorney
• Juvenile Court

Questions regarding your child’s attendance can be directed to your child’s teacher

or the School Social Worker Misty Britt at 350-2051.