According to the Georgia Department of Education, when a student has five or more unexcused absences, the school system will notify the student's parent or guardian.
What Qualifies as an Absence?
Tardy-to-class
Arrival at a classroom after the tardy bell at his/her school.
Tardy-to-school
Arrival to homeroom in the morning after the tardy bell.
Early-check-out
Signing of a student out of school before the end of the school day by a parent or designated individual.
Exception-for-suspension
School days missed as a result of an out-of-school suspension shall not count as unexcused days for the purpose of determining student truancy.
What qualifies as Truancy?
Truancy is more than 5 unexcused absences from school without a valid written excuse.
Hospital Homebound (HHB) Services
If a student is expected to be out for more than a week, please reach out to us to determine whether the child is eligible for Hospital Homebound Services or Online Services.
Sample of Attendance Notice
Our records indicate that your child has accrued 5 or more absences/late check ins/early check outs. The Baldwin County School System has chosen to be proactive in notifying families when the time absent from school accumulates to 3 days. If you believe that there is an error in this report, please contact the school attendance office. Georgia law requires that children attend school daily unless prohibited from doing so by personal illness, medical appointment, death in the immediate family, observance of a religious holiday, mandated by court order, hazardous conditions, voting or registering to vote. Unfortunately, if we do not receive a written note within 5 school days of your child's return to school, the absence or late check-in/early, check-out your child will be considered/recorded unexcused. Notes may be turned in to the Attendance Office upon returning to school. The note should include the student's name, the date of the absence, the reason for the absence and your signature. The Georgia Compulsory School Attendance Law states: " Any parent, guardian, or other person residing in this state who has control of charge of a child or children and who shall violate the mandatory school attendance statutes (O.C.G.A.20-2-690.1) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of penalties, at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction." We recognize that it is our responsibility to provide the opportunity for a quality education; however, we cannot accomplish this if your child is not in school. Please help us to ensure that your child receives a quality education by insisting on regular and punctual school attendance. If you have any questions or need assistance with attendance issues within your family, please call the school office.
Accepting Attendance Documentation
Attendance excuses may be emailed or handwritten and directly issued to our Attendance Clerk Mrs. Wilson in the Main Office or emailed to her at Claritha.wilson@baldwin.k12.ga.us , contact number 478-457-3370.
Grade level administrative assistants and counselors accept excuses as well.
If excuses are given to teachers, they submit excuses to the grade level administrative assistants.