Jeffco Public Schools identifies attendance is the responsibility of the student, the parents, and the school. The importance of regular, daily attendance as a basis for academic achievement cannot be overemphasized. Absences have a negative effect upon instructional continuity, regardless of attempts to make up the work. The district believes duplication of the classroom experience can never be accomplished with after-school assignments. The school cannot teach students who are not present. The regular contact of students with one another in the classroom and their participation in a well-planned instructional activity under the tutelage of a competent teacher are vital to this purpose.
The district establishes the school attendance period by adopting a school calendar. Secondary students are required to be in attendance 1,056 hours and elementary students 968 hours during each school year. All schools will have attendance rules which incorporate the district's attendance requirements as outlined by district policy and regulations.
The following shall be considered excused absences:
A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the school administration on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences shall be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only, which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.
A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental, or emotional disability.
Excused absences include funerals, illness, injury, legal obligations, medical procedures and religious observations, and extenuating circumstances determined by the principal.
A student who is attending a school sponsored activity or who is receiving Jeffco educational services shall not be considered absent for attendance reporting purposes.
A student who is visiting a parent or guardian who is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty, is on leave from, or immediately returning from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting.
The district may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources.
Schools will then notify the parent or guardian if the absence will be considered unexcused pursuant to district policy.
Pre-Arranged Absences
Any absence not specifically covered by another section, such as family vacations, or other extended absence, must complete a pre-arranged absence form in order to be excused. Pre-Arranged Absences are typically longer than 1 day and/or in conjunction with a planned long weekend (3-4 days F-Su or Sa-Tues). This form must be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled absence. In order for the absence to be excused, the student must meet one or more of the following conditions: 1) is in good academic standing; 2) has no unexcused absences; or, 3) has four or fewer excused absences in a semester or seven or fewer in a school year. Ryan Elementary has a Pre-Arranged Absence Form that is available on the Ryan Elementary Website under Family Resources. A paper version can also be picked up at the front office but we highly encourage a digital format as we are moving to be more “GREEN” and not waste paper. This form can be filled out anytime from anywhere… even your phone. These will be approved based on your student’s attendance and the Principal.
The school will enforce the written district policy for makeup work.
When prior notification is not received by the school, it is the policy of the district that school personnel will notify parents of the student's absence.
Unexcused Absences
Unexcused absences are defined as absences not covered by the grounds for excused absences, including students leaving class without permission of the teacher or administrator in charge, students missing a class without parental approval, 'sneak days,' 'ditch days,' and 'prank days,' and circumstances determined by the principal. Each unexcused absence shall be entered on the student's record. The parents or guardian of the student receiving an unexcused absence shall be notified orally or in writing by the school of the unexcused absence. Unexcused absences and tardies may subject the student to appropriate penalties. These may include school sanctions and/or the imposition of academic sanctions for classes missed. At the senior high school level, persistent absenteeism may, in the judgment of the teacher and school administration, result in a failing grade.
The maximum number of unexcused absences a student may incur before judicial proceedings are initiated to enforce compulsory attendance is four days in one month or 10 days in one year.
Makeup Work
Makeup work shall be provided for any class in which a student has an excused absence. It is the student's responsibility to pick up any makeup assignments on the day he or she returns to class. There shall be two days allowed for makeup work for each day of excused absence. Makeup work shall be allowed following an unexcused absence with the goal of providing the student an opportunity to keep up with the class and as an incentive to attend school.
Tardiness
Tardiness is defined as the appearance of a student without proper excuse after the scheduled time that a class begins. Because of the disruptive nature of tardiness and the detrimental effect upon the rights of the nontardy student to uninterrupted learning, consequences shall be imposed for excessive tardiness. Parents or guardians shall be notified of all penalties regarding tardiness.
A student who arrives after the scheduled time that a class begins, but meets the State Board of Education requirements of the attendance period, shall be considered present for that entire period. The student may still be marked tardy (unexcused tardy or excused tardy as applicable). A student who arrives after the scheduled time the class has begun but does not meet the State Board of Education requirements of attendance period shall be considered absent for that entire period.
Schools will develop a fair and equitable tardy policy that will effectively utilize resources and not result in an increase in out-of-school suspensions.
*As of 1/22/2022 Jeffco Public Schools implemented a new Elementary Attendance Process that states:
-Teacher will complete attendance within 15 minutes of the "tardy bell."
-Secretary will enter all attendance calls into Campus within 1 hour of the "tardy bell."
-Follow Up Contact will happen within 2 hours of the "tardy bell" if no contact has been
made with the school.
*Follow Up Contact Procedures:
-The school will call down, in order, based on what is entered into Infinite Parent Portal, until a live connection is made. We will also attempt to make contact through email as well. We will wait 30 minutes before moving to the next step.
-If there is no contact with a parent/guardian, we will attempt to contact the "emergency contacts" in regards to the whereabouts of the student and wait 30 minutes if no answer before moving to the next step.
-If no contact has been made within anyone listed in Infinite Campus Parent Portal in regards to the whereabouts of the student, the Principal will determine if the next step is to notify Jeffco District Security Dispatch, and they will advise us on what will happen moving forward.
–District Policies – Jeffco Public Schools, 9/5/2019 and can be found at https://go.boarddocs.com/co/jeffco/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=87CU645E4B2A
-Ryan Elementary Website for Pre-Arranged Absence - https://ryan.jeffcopublicschools.org/family_resources/pre-arranged_absence_form
-23/24 Attentance Letter - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RiPv_SCNKazUnNKNXlbzMoJV7klO9kKU4C1pjWxoxZA