Attendance

Student Responsibilities: Students are expected to attend all the classes daily. The student is responsible for knowing and following all attendance procedures outlined in this document. The student is responsible for obtaining makeup assignments and for completing those assignments within the prescribed timeline.

Parent Responsibilities: Any absence due to illness, death in the family, religious observance , or other unusual circumstance will be excused. Missing class to attend school activities will be excused with prior teacher and administrative approval. Parents of absent students are expected to call on the day of the absence, no later than one hour after the start of school. If no contact is made to the school within 24 hours of the start of the absence, the absence will be considered unexcused. When calling the school the parent must give the dates of the expected absence. If the absence turns out to be longer or shorter, the parent must call the office to inform the school of the change. Parents are legally responsible for supporting the need for regular school attendance and for supporting disciplinary action taken by the school for attendance violations.

School Responsibilities: A reasonable effort will be made to notify the parent by phone when a student is absent without notice.

Teachers will provide information on missing assignments during non-instructional times as arranged with each class. Teachers will inform parents when absences are affecting grades.

Administrators will inform parents and students of attendance policies and procedures and will administer appropriate disciplinary measures for truant and excessive absences.

General Attendance Policies - Definitions:

• When a student is not present in a classroom, he/she is marked absent.

• Excused absences are those validated by parents.

• Prearranged absences should be arranged at least two (2) school days in advance of the planned absence or as soon as possible.

• Absences due to suspension are considered as part of the total absence count.

• Excessive absences: A student must attend class regularly to receive a passing grade. A student who is absent from a class more than ten percent (10%) of the number of required attendance days, and whose absence has materially affected academic progress, may fail that course, receive a lower grade, or be retained. The principal may require documentation from a doctor to verify a medical condition when absences total more than ten percent (10%) of the number of required attendance days. In addition, the student may be cited and reported to the courts. The student and/or parent wanting counseling intervention due to excessive absence may request a conference by calling the school principal.

• If a student is marked absent and has not been excused by 9:00 am, the automated phone system will begin dialing the phone numbers of record until a parent/guardian has been reached and the absence is marked excused by the Records Secretary.

• The front playground gates will be closed at 7:25; at which point any late student should report to the front office.

C.U.T.S

School attendance is not only a good personal habit to prepare students for future employment, it is also state law. Arizona State Law (15- 802.E, 15-803) requires every person who has custody of a child between the ages of 6 and 16 to make sure that the child attends school for the full time that school is in session unless the child is unable to attend due to illness or another legitimate reason. Since students cannot learn if they are not in school on a daily basis, the Litchfield Elementary School District participates in a partnership program with the Maricopa County Juvenile Court system called C.U.T.S. (Court Unified Truancy Suppression) program. We will be tracking attendance closely to make sure that all students are attending school on a regular and consistent basis. Every student is expected to be at school every day unless there is a legitimate reason (such as illness) not to be. An absence is defined as a minimum of one missed class period per day. An unexcused absence will count as a “truant” day as defined by law. A student is “habitually truant” if s/he has five or more unexcused absences from school. A student that is absent more than 10% (18 days) of the required number of school days per year is considered to have “excessive absences” whether or not the absence is “excused” or “unexcused.” When students have excessive absences, the school may cite the student and/or parent through the Juvenile Court C.U.T.S. program. When this action is taken, the student and parent/legal guardian will be required to attend a hearing at the Juvenile Court Center to address the issue. The Court may require the attendance of the parent and the child at a Saturday education class or require the child to attend work hours or counseling sessions as it deems appropriate. The parent will also be required to pay a fee of $50 to the Court. Parents who fail to comply with the court ordered actions might receive a citation. If convicted, parents face a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by jail time and/or fines. Please work with your child to ensure that good school attendance habits are firmly established so this is never a concern.