The state of Georgia has in place a mandatory attendance law. The Douglas County School System has created an attendance policy that falls in line with that law. It is imperative that students attend school daily in order to be successful and, in some cases, qualify for services to which they are entitled. If you have any questions about attendance, please contact your Administrator or your School Social Worker.
Please click on image to review Douglas County School's attendance policy
Chronic Absenteeism or Truancy: What's the Difference?
The State of Georgia and other states nationwide have experienced an epidemic of students missing more than 10% of scheduled school days. When students are not in the building, they miss out on instructional time, which is crucial to building the foundational knowledge they need to progress into the upper grades, as well as for social and emotional development, which is imperative for managing their emotions, focusing in class, and becoming a responsible and caring individual. This year, the State of Georgia enacted a new bill to address chronic absenteeism, in addition to the already-mandated truancy law. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of scheduled school days and includes both excused and unexcused absences. Truancy is defined as having 5 or more unexcused absences. Regardless of the status of an absence, be it excused or unexcused, students missing instructional time miss out on a lot. If you have questions regarding chronic absenteeism and/or truancy, please contact me at temekia.cheely@dcssga.org or 770-651-6618.
Page updated
Report abuse