Attendance

CCS ATTENDANCE POLICIES

The process for a child to achieve success and educational excellence begins in elementary school where regular attendance, including arriving on time for a full day of instruction, are essential. Attendance is the joint responsibility of students, parents, guardians, teachers and other school personnel. 

Facts

• High numbers of absences in kindergarten may cause a child to fall behind 

• Missing 10% (approximately 18 days) of the school year can significantly affect a student’s academic 

• success 

• A student can still fall behind if he or she misses a day or two every few weeks 

• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs a student may drop out of high school 

NC COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW, G. S. 115C-378 (see Policy 4400 Attendance). 

Children required to attend. Every parent, guardian or custodian in NC having charge or control of a student between the ages of 7 and 16, shall cause the student to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the student is assigned shall be in session. Every parent, guardian or custodian in NC having charge or control of a child under age 7 who is enrolled in a public school in grades K-2, shall also cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session unless the child has withdrawn from school. No person shall encourage, entice or counsel any child of compulsory age to be unlawfully absent from school. The parent, guardian or custodian of the child shall notify the school of the reason for the absence of a child in accordance with local school board policy. 

The principal, superintendent, or student’s teacher has the right to excuse a student temporarily from attendance because of sickness or other unavoidable cause as defined by the State Board of Education. Below are valid/lawful reasons for temporary non-attendance from school.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

• Illness or Injury - student illness or injury prevents physically being able to attend school 

• Quarantine – isolation is ordered by the local health officer or by the State Board of Health 

• Death in Immediate Family – death of an immediate family member (e.g. grandparent, parent, brother, sister) 

• Medical or Dental Appointment of student 

• Court or Administrative proceedings – attendance at court proceedings, or student is party to action or 

• Religious Observances – observances required by faith of the student or the student’s parents 

• Educational Opportunity – valid education opportunity with prior approval by principal prior to absence  (e.g., college visitation, service as a legislative or governor’s page) 

• Local School Board Policy – temporary or occasional absences in accordance with local school board policies 

• Absence Related to Deployment Activities-student visits parent/legal guardian who is on active military duty and  called to duty, on leave, or immediately returned from deployment to combat zone or combat support posting at  the discretion of superintendent/designee 

• Child Care and Pregnant and Parenting Students – pregnancy and absences due to illness or medical appointment  during school hours of a child of whom the student is the custodial parent 

• Exam exemption(s): approved in accordance with the provisions of Policy 3405 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES 

• A student’s willful absence from school with or without the knowledge of a parent; or 

• A student’s absence from school for any reason other than those listed in ‘EXCUSED ABSENCE’; or 

• A student not permitted to attend school because he/she lacks proper immunizations  

• A student not permitted to attend school because he/she lacks a proper health assessment 

CCS ATTENDANCE POLICIES (K-12) See Policy 4400 Attendance for more information. 

1. When a student must miss school, a written excuse from a parent or guardian must be presented to the teacher within two school days of the student’s return after an absence. Written excuses submitted beyond two school days will be subject to principal approval. A written excuse may be submitted by hard copy, electronically through email, or other school approved form of communication (i.e. absence forms on school websites, classroom communication apps, etc.). The reason for an absence determines if the absence is excused or unexcused. 

2. Absences due to extended illnesses or after accumulating more than ten (10) absences require a statement from a physician. Notes/statements from a physician may require verification by school staff. 

3.  Absences due to extended illnesses generally require a statement from a physician, which may be requested by the principal/designee. Teachers and administrators/designees shall make reasonable accommodations for students who are absent or tardy because of the student’s disabilities or special needs. Students having excused absences due to documented chronic health problems may be exempted. Documented chronic health problems may require verification by school staff and will be reviewed annually.

 4. Students who are medically fragile are frequently absent from school, and their absences are directly 

related to their severe or life threatening physical condition. 

5. In the case of absences and out of school suspensions, the student shall be given the opportunity to make up any tests or other work missed due to absences. The student is responsible for finding out what assignments are due and completing missed assignments within the specified time period. See Policy 4351 Short-term Suspension for more information.

 6. Parents will be contacted before absences become excessive regardless of the reasons for the absences. The principal will consider whether to retain the student or deny course credit and shall notify the parent/guardian in writing of the decision. Parents of students with chronic attendance violations will be referred to truancy court when a lack of cooperation and/or significant increase in student absences is observed. 

7. To receive credit for courses, students must not have excessive absences or tardies. For the purposes of this paragraph and the state compulsory attendance law, absences include accumulated unexcused tardies as specified below. 

K-8 SPECIFIC Information 

• In order to be considered in attendance, a student must be present in school for at least one half of the school day or at a place other than the school with the approval of the appropriate school officials for the purpose of attending an authorized school activity. 

• At the elementary school level, more than ten (10) absences a year are considered excessive. At the middle school level, more than ten (10) absences in a course per semester or twenty (20) absences a year are considered excessive. At the elementary and middle school level, a student will be given one (1) unexcused absence when the student has accumulated a combined total of five unexcused tardies (example: 3 late check-ins + 2 early check outs will count as one unexcused absence). 

• Students who have excessive unexcused tardies/early check outs may be assigned ‘make-up time’ at the discretion of the principal. 

ATTENDANCE

It is very important that your child attend school each day unless the child has a contagious disease or is otherwise too sick to attend. The State Compulsory Attendance Law (G.S. 115-116) requires that all children between the ages of seven (7) and sixteen (16) years of age attend school. According to regulations issued from the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, “a child shall be present at least one-half of the school day in order to be recorded present for that day.” This means that children who leave school before 11:40 a.m. will be recorded absent for that day. 

Parents are to send a note each time a student is out and give the reason for the absence. IF A NOTE IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN 2 DAYS OF THE STUDENTS RETURN, THE ABSENCE IS COUNTED AS UNEXCUSED. 

Childhood illnesses happen often and school personnel are aware that sick children should be at home. However, please know that if you must take your child away from school, he/she misses the learning activities that are happening in the classroom setting. As teaching styles change to more group oriented and hands-on type activities, students miss many important learning opportunities when they are absent. With this in mind, please plan vacations and trips out-of- town during students’ holidays and vacation times. 

According to N.C. law, trips or vacations are considered unexcused absences unless prior approval is received from the principal. If you are planning a trip and believe the absences should be excused, you must complete an “educational opportunity” form and return it to the principal prior to the trip. This will give teachers an opportunity to prepare work which will be missed during the trip and keep your child from falling behind in school work. The principal must approve the absences before your child's absence is excused. 

• Excessive absences can require students to repeat their current grade.

Tardies / Early Checkouts 

If a student arrives at school after 8:15 a.m., the parent must accompany the child to the office and sign him/her in. Students will receive a “Tardy Slip” to admit them to class. Parents will not be allowed to walk tardy students to class. The school will contact the parents of those children who regularly come in tardy to correct the matter. If this does not correct the tardiness, we will turn the matter over to the School Social Worker for action.

DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL HOURS

Please do not take students from school unless absolutely necessary. There might be times when it is necessary to take your child because of dental or doctor appointments or some other special reason. We want to cooperate with you fully in cases such as these, if you cannot arrange an appointment any other time. However, we would like to ask you not to take students for baby-sitting, household chores, or things that can be done after school is out. We would appreciate your cooperation in this matter very much. Excessive check-outs will be referred to the school social worker. Parents desiring to take students from school must sign their child out in the office before 2:30 p.m. Even though you may have written the teacher a note about picking them up, you must still sign your child out. The teachers are instructed not to let any student leave the classroom without permission from the office. This is for the protection of your child.

REQUEST FOR PRIOR APPROVAL OF ABSENCES

• We ask that you plan your vacations and travel during times when school is not in session; however, if it is necessary for your child to miss school for these reasons, you may pick up a Request for Prior Approval of Absences form in the front office for an educational opportunity.  Contact karesa.quattlebaum@cabarrus.k12.nc.us  for more information.

• We ask that you complete this form and return it to the data manager, Karesa Quattlebaum, in the office two weeks prior to the absence(s).  The principal will determine if the absence(s) will be excused according to the criteria outlined on the form, as well as prior attendance record. 

• If approval is given for an educational opportunity, the student will be required to make up all the work.

**See the complete Cabarrus County Schools attendance policy for further details. **