Release Time for Religious Observance/Instruction [See Board Policy 7:80]

Test(s) and Project(s) Make-Up Policy

An important goal for Niles Township is to insure consistency among classes relative to their make-up policies and to reinforce the value that students assume responsibility for their own learning. With this goal in mind, details of teachers’ test/project make-up policy shall be printed in their Course Policy and Procedures. Students and teachers may agree upon alternative make-up arrangements, with the best interest of students in mind. Make-up work deadlines for lab class set-ups may require some modification. Teachers shall incorporate the following as part of their individual course test/project make-up policy.

In accordance with the Niles Township Academic Dishonesty Policy, any student falsely claiming illness to avoid taking an examination or turning in a paper, project, report or take-home test is subject to penalty as stated in the Academic Dishonesty Policy.

If a test is missed due to an extended unanticipated absence on the day of the test only, the student should take the test by the end of the day upon which he/she returns.

If a test will be missed due to routine doctor/dentist appointments or school-related activities (anticipated absences), the student should inform the teacher of the anticipated absence as far in advance as possible to facilitate the make-up of the missed test.

A test missed due to a partial-day absence should be made up the same day of the absence, after school, if possible.

A test missed due to a full-day absence should be made up by the end of the first day upon returning to school.

If a student is absent (unanticipated) on the due date of a long-term project (project assigned two weeks or more in advance), the completed project is due on the day of return to school.

If a student is absent (anticipated) on the due date of a long-term project (project assigned two weeks or more in advance), the completed project is still due that day. Students should make arrangements for delivery with the teacher.

Types of Absences

Excused Absences

An excused absence carries with it a privilege of making up academic work under teacher direction and assistance. After such an absence students are expected to see their teacher at once to arrange to make up their work.

The principal or his/her designee shall excuse a student’s absence only if sufficient evidence is presented to substantiate one of the following reasons (Illinois School Code 105 ILSC 5/26-29):

1. Personal illness or physical or mental disability requiring absence

2. Death in the family

3. Emergency in the home or family

4. Religious holidays

5. College visits (absence code CV)

District 219 will excuse up to 5 school days of any extended absence.  Absences must be reported in writing to the principal or designee with 5 days advance notice.  Any further days will be unexcused barring extenuating circumstances.

Unexcused Absences

A student absent from school and not meeting the provisions of “A” above will receive an unexcused absence. The student may not be given the privilege of making up academic work missed or due on the day of such absence. 

Teachers and administrators are expected to follow a collaborative process such as the following:

• Attempts by the classroom teacher to remedy the situation

• Referral to the Dean's office

• Telephone contact between dean and parent

• A conference will be convened which may include student, parent, teacher and dean

• Attendance contract which will include additional documents for approval of additional absences

Absences – Parent Responsibilities – Reporting

Students and their parents are responsible for students arriving at school on time for all classes. Complaints about bus service which affect student attendance or punctuality should be reported to the Assistant Principal at:

• West: 847-626-2521 or 847-626-2520

• North: 847-626-2021 or 847-626-2020

For language assistance, please contact our family liaisons.

Illness and Unanticipated Absences

When absences are due to illness or an emergency, the parent must call the Attendance Office by the next day at 8:00 a.m. in order for the absence to be excused. Failure to call may result in an unexcused absence. In the case of consecutive days of absence, a call to the Attendance Office (West: 847-626-2570 and North: 847-626-2030) must be made daily unless the parent can give the exact dates of the student’s extended absences. The telephone number for this purpose is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The following information must be provided by the parent for all absences:

• Student name

• Student ID number

• Name of person calling

• Phone number where parent or guardian can be reached during school hours

• Date and time (periods) of absence

• Reason for absence. (Please note previous explanation of excused reasons. “Oversleeping”, “car trouble”, “missed bus”, or “personal” are not valid excuses for missing classes.)

Anticipated Absence: Full Day or Partial Day (non-emergency)

When a parent or student can anticipate a full or partial day absence, the parent must call the Attendance Office in advance of the absence. Absences that can be anticipated will be considered as unexcused absences unless approval is given by the school 5 days prior to the date of the absence.  When arriving late or leaving early, parent/guardian must call the attendance office.  The student must check in or out of the attendance office.  Failure to follow proper procedures when arriving late or leaving early will result in an unexcused absence.

Parents Out of Town

It is the responsibility of parents to inform the Attendance Office if they will be unavailable for a period of time. The authorized person appearing on the students’ emergency card must call the Attendance Office if the student is absent from school. If another adult is designated by the parents to excuse their child from school, a phone call from a parent identifying the temporary guardian must be received prior to the parents leaving town. Failure to follow the above procedures will result in an unexcused absence.

Absences – Student Responsibilities

Re-Admission after Absence Due to Illness

One or Two Day Absences: When students return to school after an absence(s), they are to report directly to their first class. If their absence was unexcused, they should report to their Dean before going to class.

Three or More Consecutive Days of Absence: If students have been absent because of illness three or more consecutive school days, they must report to the school nurse first. (See the Health Services section in this Handbook (page 28) for details.) The student shall be re-admitted to class(es) upon presentation of a release slip signed by the nurse. If the absences were unexcused, students should report to their Dean before going to their class (es).

Late Entry to School: If students arrive late to school after the first period has ended, they should stop at the Attendance Office for a pass.

Leaving School During School Hours (see Board Policy 7:90): No student may leave school during their scheduled school day except by permission of the school Principal or his/her designee (Nurses’ Office or Dean’s Office).

School presence during an approved excusable absence is prohibited and may result in the absence being converted to unexcused.

Absences During Final Exams

A doctor’s note is required to take a make-up on any final exam.

Students will not be permitted to take final examinations before or after the regular schedule without specific approval from the Principal or his/her designee. Make-up final examinations will be administered after the regular schedule (second semester, summer, or fall) for absences where make-up privileges are available.

Attendance – Miscellaneous

Review

Notification of absences of any type from a given class or classes:

On the fifth absence, parents, student and counselor will be notified that the attendance office has recorded five absences. Parents will receive a copy of the District’s attendance policy.

On the eighth absence, parents shall receive a second attendance mailer. This letter will indicate that the student has been absent eight times from a particular class. Teachers will also be notified and will inform their students about their absences and will be encouraged to contact the parent.

On the twelfth absence, the Dean will notify the parents, student, teacher and counselor. The Dean will determine if a parent/student conference is required to remediate the student’s attendance. Additionally, the student will be placed on Social Probation pending additional information.

The following interventions may occur for students who miss multiple days of school or multiple periods of a particular class:

• Referral to Pupil Service Team

• Referral to a Social Worker

• Referral to School Psychologist

• Placement on Attendance Probation (see below)

Attendance Probation

Students who are chronically absent, whether excused or unexcused, may be required to attend school every day.  Any absences will be marked unexcused in these cases.  Should the student claim illness, they should still report to school and the nurse will assess. If the nurse determines that the student should not attend school for the day, the student will be sent home and given an excused absence. If the nurse determines that the student is able to attend school, the student will be required to go to class.

If the student does not attend school to be assessed by the nurse, he/she may be required to be assessed by the family physician. A note signed by the physician on the day of the absence will be required to excuse the absence. The doctor's note must be brought to the Health Center when the student returns to school.

If the student fails to come to school and be assessed by the nurse, or if the student fails to bring a doctor's note to school on the day he/she returns, the absence will be considered unexcused.

Tardiness

Student tardiness shall initiate disciplinary procedures including, but not limited to, parental conferences in order to develop corrective steps.

Record

A student’s absences and tardies shall be entered upon his/her record.

Attendance & Truancy [See Board Policy 7:70]

Truant

A "truant" is a child subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof.

Valid cause for absence

A child may be absent from school because of illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, situations beyond the student's control as determined by the Board of Education, such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student, or other reason as approved by the Superintendent or designee.

Chronic or habitual truant

A "chronic or habitual truant" is a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for five (5) percent or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

Truant minor

A child to whom supportive services, including prevention, diagnostic, intervention and remedial services, alternative programs, and other school and community resources have been provided but who has failed to cease chronic truancy or who has been offered such services and has refused them.

Resources and Supportive Services

Available resources and supportive services may include: notice of truancy to student’s parent, counseling services to student and parent, placement in more restrictive educational environment, and evaluation by multidisciplinary staff to determine student’s overall needs.

Penalties

Penalties for truancies may include any of the following: Extended Detention, Social Probation, BAC assignments, suspension, and/or possible withdrawal and failure from classes; provided however, that no punitive action shall be taken against chronic truants unless available supportive sources and other school resources have been provided to the student.

Penalties for Single Class Truancies and Tardiness: Required detentions are given in minutes by infraction. They are issued on a per class basis for the following violations:

Tardiness

Student tardiness shall initiate disciplinary procedures including, but not limited to, parental conferences in order to develop corrective steps.

Incident Tardy Extended Tardy (5 minutes)

First and Second 1. Warning   1. Warning

2. Teacher conversation with student   2. Teacher conversation with student

3. Teacher makes parent/guardian contact   3. Teacher makes parent/guardian contact

  4. Documentation of tardy in IC   4. Documentation of tardy in IC

Third 1. 20 minute detention issued     1. 40 minutes detention issued

2. Teacher notifies student of detention 2. Teacher notifies student of detention

3. Automated email of detention issued parent/guardian 3. Automated email of detention issued parent/guardian

4. Documentation of tardy in IC 4. Documentation of tardy in IC

Fourth 1. 40 minute detention issued     1. 60 minutes detention issued

2. Teacher notifies student of detention 2. Teacher notifies student of detention

3. Automated email of detention issued parent/guardian 3. Automated email of detention issued parent/guardian

4. Documentation of tardy in IC 4. Documentation of tardy in IC

Fifth+ 1. 60 minute detention issued     1. Extended adetention issued

2. Teacher notifies student of detention 2. Teacher notifies student of detention

3. Automated email of detention issued parent/guardian 3. Automated email of detention issued parent/guardian

4. Documentation of tardy in IC 4. Documentation of tardy in IC

5. Teacher notifies Dean 5. Teacher notifies Dean

6. Dean discusses student with PST for further support 6. Dean discusses student with PST for further support

*On the second unexcused absence from a class, study hall, or homeroom, the student may also lose open campus and parking privileges for up to a semester.

Prosecution

In addition to the penalties set forth above, a parent or guardian of a truant and the truant student may be subject to prosecution for violation of the compulsory attendance laws of the State of Illinois by state and local law enforcement authorities. The village of residence may also seek to enforce the provisions of this policy.

Loss of Privilege

Loss of Privilege, meaning suspension from participation in or attendance at school activities outside of school hours, including but not limited to: athletic contests, musical/dramatic performances, school club events, ceremonial events such as homecoming, prom and commencement.  Additionally, school-based privileges can be revoked for any period of time based on severity of infraction, including: parking pass, attendance at assemblies, field trips and other similar privileges when a student violates the school’s code of conduct, school board policy, or the law.

Although loss of privilege may be assigned by the school principal or designee, nothing in this policy shall negate prescribed disciplinary actions such as suspension, detention, the filing of the charges with law enforcement officials or other appropriate sanctions.

Upon the 4th unexcused absence in any class, or the 12th cumulative absence from a class (whether unexcused and/or excused), a student may be immediately placed upon Loss of Privilege. The student and his/her parents will be notified in writing that Loss of Privilege will be applied due to poor attendance, and will also detail the steps that may be taken to regain good standing. Upon request by the parent, the Dean will meet informally with the parent to review the issue and afford due process.

To any extent possible, a student who has been placed on social probation shall be able to demonstrate good conduct over time and thereby be re-instated to good standing and participation in all social activities. Attendance violations later in each semester make it difficult to achieve good standing, thus depriving the student of participation in important events such as prom and commencement exercises.