Attendance

ATTENDANCE

Children are expected to attend Head Start and Early Head Start regularly. We strive for 85% attendance for all classrooms. In a month with 20 school days, your child would have to attend 17 days to achieve 85% attendance.

If your child is absent, please inform your child’s teacher in advance if possible, stating the reason for absence. If the absence is not prearranged, please contact the child's classroom by 8:30 a.m. that day to let staff know that the child will be absent and the reason for the absence.

Our classroom time begins at 8:00 a.m.. Please make every effort to bring your child on time each day so that they receive the maximum benefit of class time. Having them arrive on time each day will also help establish a solid routine which will make the transition to school easier.

Teachers are required to document absences/excuses daily. If your child is absent for more than one day please contact the classroom each day unless you have already told staff a specific date that your child will return. Communication in regards to attendance is vital. Head Start requires that all absences are well documented and analyzed for patterns. Family support measures will be initiated when a child is chronically absent.

McDowell County Head Start/Early Head Start Attendance Procedures

Daily attendance sheets will be turned in to the Family Engagement Coordinator at the end of the month. When a child has been absent three (3) consecutive days or attendance is irregular, Head Start staff will attempt to contact the parents and if necessary will plan for a home visit, unless the staff has been informed by the parents of an excused absence. Information as to the reason for the absence will be documented appropriately. All records, reports, and information regarding the family will be kept in a locked file cabinet/office and shared only with the appropriate staff. Family records will be continually updated.

Documented excused absences means an absence for the following reasons:

1) A child is hospitalized (until released from the doctor’s care)

2) A child is incapable due to a serious illness or injury

3) A child contacts a communicable disease

4) A child has other health ailments which temporarily prevent attendance, such as asthma

5) There is death in the child’s family

6) Receiving medical treatment or therapy at the time class is convened

7) Attendance is affected by temporary family situations (e.g. custody issues, etc.)

*** Call Head Start Center between 7:00-8:30 if your child will be tardy, absent for breakfast or your child plans to leave early before lunch and PM Snack. Breakfast may be served about 9:00. Lunch may be served about 12:00. Snack may be served about 1:30 PM.. ***

*** Call Early Head Start Center between 7:00-8:30 if your child will be tardy, absent for breakfast or your child plans to leave early before lunch and PM Snack. Breakfast may be served about 8:30. Lunch may be served about 11:30. Snack may be served about 1:30 PM.. ***

If your child is chronically absent and other attempts to reach you have failed, you will receive an attendance letter reminding you of the importance of your child's regular attendance and a date by which you must contact program staff or your child's slot will be considered open. The program's ultimate goal is to support your family and help you remove any barriers to attendance, however, if you do not communicate with us, we must consider the slot as vacant and fill it with the next child on the waiting list. If your child is enrolled in the program and drops out, you will have to re-apply for your child and be put on the waiting list.

Our programs reflect a commitment to School Readiness in all aspects. Attendance is one of the key elements to a child's success in our program and throughout their education. When a child is absent, they miss the benefit of the educational and social time in class that day as well as the interaction with staff and peers that enhances class time. To help you understand the importance of building good attendance habits early, the McDowell County Schools Attendance Policy is linked here. Once your child enters public school, they will be required to attend regularly and MCS attendance policies will be enforced if there are chronic unexcused absences.