Student Travel

The Hawaii State Compulsory Attendance Law

The Hawaii Revised Statutes (§302A-1132) states that “Unless excluded from school or excepted from attendance, all children who will have arrived at the age of at least five years on or before July 31 of the school year, and who will not have arrived at the age of eighteen years, by January 1 of any school year, shall attend either a public or private school for, and during, the school year, and any parent, guardian, or other person having the responsibility for, or care of, a child whose attendance at school is obligatory shall send the child to either a public or private school."

Students who are chronic absentees may be referred to Family Court. Pursuant to H.R.S. 571-11(2), Family Court can place a child under jurisdiction for truancy if the child is not attending school or is not receiving the educational services required by law.

Koko Head Philosophical Base

Koko Head is committed and strives to provide students with an educational program that provides all students the ability to develop their fullest potential, capabilities, and to become a useful and contributing member to society. School attendance is a primary indicator of academic success and we believe that optimum benefits of education can be achieved only when students attend school daily and are in class on time. Teachers, administrators, and other staff will make every effort to work with the students and their parent(s) and/or guardian(s) to optimize available learning activities as well as educational services and opportunities.

Absences

Excused Absences ONLY consists of:

· Student is sick – Doctor’s note shall be given within 48 hours from the first day of return.

· Death in Family – Must be immediate family member to include (parents, legal guardian, siblings, and grandparents). Submittal of obituary may be required.

For the purposes of this document, the following words are defined as follows:

“Absent” means the student is not physically present in school or in a scheduled class for more than half of the school day or class period except if the student is on an authorized activity.

NOTE: School administrators have the discretion to determine if the absences will be excused or unexcused, especially when student academics are adversely affected and/or if attendance is a concern. Please be aware that for all Unexcused Absences, Teachers are not expected to provide make-up work.