Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES

The attendance secretary can be reached at 856-6557 from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Medical or other notes may be faxed to 856-2333.


Attendance Expectations

Students are expected to attend any scheduled day of school. The length of the school day is irrelevant. The absence count will begin with the student’s first day of class that a student is enrolled in the current school semester. Attendance policy will be enforced on a “per class”, “per semester” basis.


Students should:

  • Be in class, on time, every day.

  • Clear any absence with the attendance secretary by written note or parent/guardian phone call/message within 24 hours of the absence. If the absence is not cleared, it will be recorded as a truancy and consequences will be imposed.

  • Make up any missing work due to absences in compliance with department expectations.


The attendance policy serves two purposes for our students. First, absences have a substantial negative effect on academic performance. Therefore, a primary goal of this school is to get every student to class, on time, every day. Second, the attendance policy reinforces social expectations for successful employees and responsible citizens.


Students and parents hold the primary responsibility to attend school daily. Parents or guardians are expected to call on the day of their son or daughter’s absence.


Partially Closed Campus

Once a student arrives on campus, a student may only check out during the school day by obtaining a blue permit to leave from the main office. Sophomores, juniors and seniors (10th-12th graders) MAY leave campus during their assigned lunch period. However, RHS is a closed campus for freshmen (9th graders) during lunch. Freshmen students may leave campus for lunch ONLY if checked out, in person, by a parent/guardian. Discipline consequences will be imposed for freshmen who violate this policy. Additionally, upperclassmen will receive discipline consequences for taking freshmen off campus during lunch.

Habitually Absent/Truant Procedures:

In compliance with Wyoming Statute 21-4-101 (ii) which states, "habitual truant" means any child with five (5) or more unexcused absences in any one (1) school year,” the following reporting procedures will be followed:


  • 5 Absences. (Tier 1) When a student reaches 5 non-school related absences (PAV, PNE, SUS, TRU), the parents/guardians will be notified by a letter and the student will conference with an SSC staff member and/or administration. This is in compliance with Wyoming Statute 21-4-101 (ii) which states; "habitual truant" means any child with five (5) or more unexcused absences in any one (1) school year”.


  • 8 Absences. (Tier 2) When a student reaches 8 non-school related absences, another letter will be sent to the parents/guardians of the student and administration will call the parent/guardian explaining the consequences of accumulating more than 10 absences in a semester. A parent meeting may be called if deemed necessary to address issues related to attendance.

  • 11-15 Absences. (Tier 3) Administration and counseling office will schedule a meeting with the student and their parent/guardian to develop a plan of action to improve attendance. At this point, parent verified absences will be recorded as ABS.

  • 16-Up Absences. (Tier 3) When a student reaches 16 absences, a letter will be mailed to the county attorney referencing possible educational neglect. A community agency referral or interventions by those agencies will also be explored. The school will still continue to work with the family of the student and the student to improve attendance

Attendance Codes

Counts toward total absences

Does not count toward total absences

PAV (parent verified; up to 10 absences)

ACT (school-related activity)

PNE (parent verified; > 10 absences)

CRT (Court appearance)

ABT (absence not changed to PAV, PNE or TRU)

CHC (religious activity with prior approval)

TRU (truant; unexcused absence)

DTH (death/funeral; requires documentation)

SUS (out-of-school suspension)

HBD (homebound; requires admin. approval)

OEN (Online expectations not met)

MED (medical; requires documentation)

SSC (in-school suspension)

GUI (counselor)

NOTE: Parent/guardian must provide documentation if the absence is related to CHC, CRT, DTH, or MED. That said, according to State Law, determination of whether an absence is excused or unexcused lies with the school and not with the parent. An administrator may review extenuating circumstances.


10-Day Drop

The Wyoming Department of Education requires every high school to drop a student, if he or she has missed 10 consecutive days of school. This requirement is for any reason including medical. If your son or daughter will be missing 10 or more consecutive days due to a medical reason, contact the Counseling Department for a homebound program application.


Pre-Arranged Absence Policy

  • Pick up the request form and return to the front office at least two weeks before the actual date of the absence.

  • Teachers may approve or disapprove the request based upon the student’s performance in class. If a teacher does not approve the absence, a student may still be absent, but must be aware that a passing grade in that class may not be possible.

  • When possible, the student must complete all other work in adherence to the classroom/department policy.


Truancies

Truancy refers to an absence, as defined in the policies of the local Board of Trustees, of any child required by this article to attend school when such absence is not excused to the satisfaction of the Board of Trustees by the parent, guardian, or other person’s having control of the child (Wyoming Code Annotated 21-4-101).


Riverton High School is under no obligation to accept any absence verification from a parent/guardian when the parent/guardian did not know the precise whereabouts of the student during the time in question.


An absence becomes a truancy when:

  • The absence is not cleared within 24 hours.

  • The student leaves the building for any reason without first checking out at the office.

  • The student presents an unacceptable absence excuse.

  • The student is NOT where assigned by supervising staff.


Truancy Consequences

  • First Offense: One (1) after school detention (1 hour)

  • Second Offense: Two (2) after school detentions (2 hours)

  • Third Offense: One (1) Saturday School, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

  • Fourth Offense: SSC for one (1) full day

  • Fifth Offense: SSC Extended Day (full day plus after school detention)

  • Sixth Offense +: Referral to administration. Referral MAY result in one or more of the following: referral for a behavior intervention, assignment to SSC, OSS, home visit and/or referral to the County Attorney or Tribal Court, and/or behavior contract.

*Truancy counts start over each semester.

Tardy Policy

  • Be on time and ready to work each class period.

  • A student is considered tardy, if they are not in the classroom when the bell rings. Individual classroom teachers may add additional expectations to this basic definition.

  • After 10 minutes, the tardy becomes an absence.

Tardy Consequences

  • Students are responsible for missed instructions or deadlines due to tardiness. No extra time to submit work or complete tasks should be expected.

  • Detention may be assigned at the discretion of the classroom teacher.

  • Habitual tardiness may result in an administrative referral.