ATTENDANCE POLICY

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Philosophy: The entire process of education requires a continuity of instruction, classroom participation, learning experiences and study in order to reach the maximum educational benefits for each individual student. The regular contact of the students with one another in the classroom and their participation in well-planned instructional activity under the direction of a competent teacher are vital to a student's educational success. Frequent absences of students from regular classroom learning experiences disrupt this instructional process. The benefit of regular classroom instruction is lost and cannot be completely regained even by extra outside instruction. All absences from school or class shall be recorded by school personnel. The building principal/designee will inform parents/guardians or majority age independent students of attendance concerns which may lead to disciplinary action.

Chapter 299.1 and 299.1A, Code of Iowa, stipulates that "a child who has reached the age of six and is under sixteen years of age by September 15 is of compulsory attendance age. In addition, "the parent or guardian of a child who is of compulsory attendance age, shall cause the child to attend some public school, an accredited nonpublic school, or competent private instruction".

Definition of Absence: The failure of a student to attend school or class. If a student is not in school, then he/she is absent. The determination of whether an absence is excused is made by the school, not by the parent. In re Donald and Katherine Blaess, 4 D.P.I. App. Dec. 199(1985).

Student Absences - Excused (501.9): Regular attendance by students is essential for students to obtain the maximum opportunities from the education program. Parents and students alike are encouraged to ensure an absence from school is a necessary absence. Students will attend school unless excused by the principal of their attendance center.

Student absences approved by the principal are excused absences. Excused absences will count as days in attendance for purposes of the truancy law. These absences include, but are not limited to, illness, family emergencies, recognized religious observances, appointments that cannot be scheduled outside the school day and school-sponsored or approved activities.

Students whose absences are approved will make up the work missed and receive full credit for the missed schoolwork. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate a procedure with the student's teacher to complete the work missed.

Students not present at school prior to 8:40 am will need to be excused by a parent prior to 11:40 am in order to practice or participate in a competition/performance held that day. The Principal or designee other has the sole discretion in determining whether an absence will be excused.

It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the student's attendance center as soon as the parent knows the student will not be attending school on that day. The principal may request evidence or written verification of the student's reason for absence.

Excused absences may include:

1. Illness or injury of the student;

2. Death or serious illness in the student's family;

3. Medical, dental, or optical appointments that cannot be made after school or on weekends

(All medical appointments require written verification from the Doctor);

4. Family vacation provided prior approval was obtained from the principal or his/her designee and arrangements made in advance of the absence to make up all work missed (including seasonal hunting)

5. Work for parents or employer in cases of emergency only (up to 5 days a year could be excused by the administration);

6. Other verified emergencies;

7. To attend religious services or to receive religious instruction, provided advance notice was given to the building principal or his/her designee;

8. Suspension or removal from class;

9. Approved college visits (5 for the junior year and 5 for the senior year);

10. Students who make the decision to attend a school sponsored activity and not participate and have parent permission.

Truancy - Unexcused Absences (501.10): Regular attendance by the students at school is essential for students to obtain the maximum opportunities from the education program. Parents and students alike are encouraged to ensure an absence from school is a necessary absence. Students will attend school unless excused by the principal of their attendance center.

Truancy is the failure to attend school for the minimum number of days established in the school calendar by the board. Truancy is the act of being absent without a reasonable excuse. These absences will include, but not be limited to, tardiness, shopping, concerts, and employment. Truancy will not be tolerated by the board.

Students are subject to disciplinary action for truancy including suspension and expulsion. It is within the discretion of the principal to determine, in light of the circumstances, whether a student may make up work missed because of truancy. Students receiving special education services will not be assigned to a supervised study hall or in-school suspension unless the goals and objectives of the student's Individualized Education Program are capable of being met.

Truancy – Unexcused Absences (501.10R1)

Students who are absent without a reasonable excuse, as determined by the principal, will be assigned detention(s), in-school suspension, or other appropriate disciplinary sanction. Reasonable excuses include illness, family emergencies, recognized religious observances and school sponsored or approved activities. Reasonable excuses may also include family trips or vacations with prior approval of the building principal. Parents are expected to telephone the school office to report a student’s absence prior to 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence. Students with unexcused absences may also be referred to the Student Assistance Team.

Unexcused Absences will be determined if:

1. Appropriate notification from the parent/guardian/majority age independent student did not occur. If a student does not provide written or verbal verification of an excused absence by the day the student returns from an absence, the absence shall be considered to be an unexcused absence.

2. The reason for the absence is not acceptable per guidelines established by the principal/designee.

3. The student fails to report to his/her assigned area of the school at the time assigned.

4. The student fails to report to class by the designated starting time of the class without a reason, which is acceptable by the principal/designee.

5. The student leaves the building/designated area during the school day without proper authorization from the principal/designee.

Non-Absence: Any student participating in a school-sponsored activity which requires an absence from the regular school day will be counted present for the duration of the school-sponsored event. The student’s absence from school will not be counted against the student. In the case of school dismissal for the event, no absence will be recorded for any student.

Notifying the School of Absences: It is the responsibility of the student's parent/guardian to notify the principal/designee of the circumstances regarding absence from school/class. Only when a student is of majority age (18 years old or married) and is not residing with the student's parent or guardian, may a student provide his or her own excuse for an absence. The principal/designee should be notified of the absence before the absence occurs. It is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to telephone the High School office on or before the day of absence. If a note or phone call is not received within 24 hours of absence, the absence will be considered unexcused. The administration reserves the right to consider special situations on a case-by-case basis.

Excessive Unexcused Absences: Students with excessive unexcused absences will be subject to disciplinary sanctions as determined by the principal/designee. These may include:

1. Remaining in the course on a probationary status subject to improved attendance, behavior and academic patterns;

2. Detention Before during or after school

3. In or Out-of-school suspension

4. Attendance contracts;

5. Loss of credit for the course;

6. Expulsion by the Board of Education.

Any student facing expulsion by the Board of Education has the right to use the appeal process as outlined in the Board of Education policies.

Guidelines for Students on a Four Term Schedule: Teachers may consider participation as part of a student's overall course grade. Lack of participation in class may result in a reduction of a student's course grade. Unexcused absences in excess of five (5) days per term may result in loss of participation credit or loss of course credit in any given class. Participation credit may not count for more than one-fourth of a student's overall grade except in the case of physical education.

Consideration will be given to the following:

1. School-sponsored events/activities 2. Medically related absences as approved by the principal/designee, and which will require a doctor’s excuse for each absence. 3. An Individualized Attendance Plan may be put into effect for students with excessive excused or unexcused absences.

4. Other special circumstances as approved by the principal/designee or other Board policy.

Make-up Work: Any student not completing work to the satisfaction of the teacher, and/or not completing work within the time limits, shall receive a failing grade for the portion of the work deemed not satisfactory or not timely. All makeup work assigned to a suspended student will be due upon reentry. Make-up work time allotment for extended illness will be handled on an individual basis. (also check pg. 28)

Unexcused Tardies: An unexcused tardy is defined as any student entering the classroom after the bell has rung and does not have a pass stating the tardy is excused. Detention will be assigned for the third tardy and for any further tardies the remainder of the term.

Late to the First Class of the Day: Students who arrive to school late and miss 1/3 or more of a class, will be counted as absent for that class. The reason for the lateness will determine whether the absence will be categorized as excused or unexcused.

Interventions: Students who are truant and/or whose absences negatively impact their academic performance will be subject to disciplinary sanctions/interventions as determined by the principal/designee. These may include:

1. Contact with parents/guardians/majority age independent by phone, e-mail, or letter.

2. Personal visits at home or the work site to report and or discuss the absences.

3. Intervention strategies by principal/guidance counselor/at-risk coordinator to develop a plan to improve attendance.

4. Assignment of makeup time or makeup work.

5. Notification of law enforcement officials in the Department of Transportation. Iowa law stipulates that "a person who does not attend a public school, an accredited nonpublic school, competent private instruction, an alternative school, adult education classes, or who is not employed at least twenty hours per week shall not receive a motor vehicle operator's license until age eighteen. A person under eighteen who has been issued a motor vehicle operator's license who does not attend any of the above-mentioned school settings "shall surrender the license and be issued a temporary restricted license."

6. Notification of the Washington County truant officer where appropriate. It is up to the truant officer to contact the Department of Human Services to inquire if the child's family is receiving FIP benefits. If the family is determined to be receiving these benefits, the Department of Human Services will schedule a meeting with the family to develop a plan for improving school attendance before the FIP benefits are reduced.

7. Possible scheduled appearance of student and parent/guardian with the superintendent of school or the Board of Education.

8. Referral to the county attorney for action which may include mediation.

9. Meeting with parent/guardian, student, and principal/designee to determine the continuation of the educational program. For any student, this could include expulsion with the Board of Education.

10. An IAP (Individualized Attendance Plan) will be put into effect for students with excessive excused and unexcused absences.