Attendance and Closures

Excused absences are defined as any absence from school due to temporary illness or injury and any other reason deemed acceptable by the school administrator.  In general, prior notice of absence from the student’s parent/guardian is required and the school administrator may require verification, such as a physician’s statement, when appropriate. All absences must be reported within 48 hours.  Absences can be reported 24 hours a day by calling (970) 348-5800.

The following will be considered excused absences: 

• A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences will be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.

• A student who is absent for an extended period due to a physical disability or a mental or behavioral health disorder.

• A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.

• A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.

• A student who is suspended or expelled.

As applicable, the district may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources.

Students who are feeling ill are encouraged to stay home. 

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions. Each unexcused absence will be entered on the student’s record. The parents/guardians of the student receiving an unexcused absence will be notified orally or in writing by the district of the unexcused absence.

In accordance with law, the district may impose appropriate penalties which relate directly to classes missed while unexcused. Penalties may include a warning, school detention, or in-school suspension. Academic penalties, out-of-school suspensions, or expulsion will not be imposed for any unexcused absence.

The administration will develop regulations to implement appropriate penalties. The school administration will consider the correlation between course failure, truancy and a student dropping out of school in developing these regulations and will implement research-based strategies to re-engage students with a high number of unexcused absences.

Students and parents/guardians may petition the Board of Education for exceptions to this policy or the accompanying regulations provided that no exception will be sustained if the student fails to abide by all requirements imposed by the Board as conditions for granting any such ex­ception.

The maximum number of unexcused absences a student may incur before judicial proceedings are initiated to enforce compulsory attendance is 10 days during any calendar year or school year.

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions. Additionally, an unexcused absence shall be recorded if a student leaves school or leaves a class without permission of the teacher or school administrator. Each unexcused absence shall be entered on the student’s record. The parent/guardian of the student receiving an unexcused absence shall be notified of the unexcused absence by the district either orally or in writing.  In accordance with law, the district may impose academic penalties that relate directly to classes missed while unexcused. Penalties may include a warning, school detention or in-school suspension. Academic penalties, out-of-school suspensions or expulsion shall not be imposed for any unexcused absence.  The maximum number of unexcused absences a student may incur before judicial proceedings are initiated to enforce compulsory attendance is 10 during any calendar year or school year.

Tardiness is defined as the appearance of a student without proper excuse after the scheduled time that a class begins. Because of the disruptive nature of tardiness and the detrimental effect upon the rights of the non-tardy student to uninterrupted learning, appropriate penalties shall be imposed for excessive tardiness. The student’s parent/guardian shall be notified of all penalties regarding tardiness.  In an unavoidable situation, a student detained by another teacher or administrator shall not be considered tardy provided that the teacher or administrator gives the student a pass to enter the next class. Teachers shall honor passes presented in accordance with this policy. 

Make-up work will be provided for any class in which a student has an excused absence unless other­wise determined by the building administrator or unless the absence is due to the student’s expulsion from school. It is the responsibility of the student to pick up any make-up assignments permitted on the day returning to class. There will be two days allowed for make-up work for each day of absence.

Make-up work will be allowed following an unexcused absence or following a student’s suspension from school with the goal of providing the student an opportunity to keep up with the class and an incentive to attend school. This work may receive full or partial credit to the extent possible as determined by the building administrator.

In the event that a student must be absent from school for an extended period of time, the student must pick up an “Early College Academy Pre-Arranged Absence Form” from the front desk.  This form must be signed by each of the student’s teachers so that he/she is notified of the upcoming absence and so that he/she can assign any necessary homework to cover the dates of absence.  The completed form must be signed by a parent and school administrator and returned at least 48 hours prior to the planned absence.