Attendance

(Visit the SSD website here for school board policy)


The purpose of the Springfield School District Attendance Policy is to attempt to mitigate the frequency of truancy by establishing guidelines for employees to follow when a student is truant. The following stakeholders hold the following responsibilities in ensuring that all students attend school on a consistent basis:


  • Caregivers:

    • Monitor regular school attendance of their child and notify the school the day of an absence. In the case of an expected absence, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to contact the school in advance of the absence.

  • School Principal/Truancy Officer/Attendance Clerk:

    • Determine if a daily absence is valid and shall attempt to contact a parent/guardian by telephone to confirm the cause of the absence.

    • Annually document the cumulative absences on each student, as the number of absences will determine the thresholds for intervention as described in these procedures. Notify the attendance clerk about students having excessive unexcused absences.

    • Investigate excessive unexcused absences.

      • If a student is absent without cause, provide written notice to parent/guardian of the concern about non-attendance and provide notice of the need for the child to attend school. 16 VSA 1127 (a) Copies of the written notice to the parent/guardian shall be provided to Springfield School Superintendent, Vermont Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Windsor County State’s Attorney.

      • If a parent alleges a medical/mental health reason for the student’s non-attendance, superintendent (or truant officer as designee) shall contact outside medical/mental health providers to verify/refute allegation of a medical/mental health reason for the absences. (16 VSA 1124) If parents/guardians refuse to bring student to appointment, this information should be documented and included in court affidavit. The cost of the doctor’s appointment would be paid by the Springfield School District.

      • Participate if necessary in Coordinated Service Plan meeting (264) to address issue of truancy and other student needs. If the CSP is not successful and more formal state intervention is deemed necessary, the clerk and/or principal shall make a formal referral to DCF Central Intake. 16 VSA 1127 ( C )


In Springfield Schools, an “absence” is defined as, “a day, or any part of a day, where the student is not present; tardies, early sign-outs, and other partial days may be included under the definition of absence, if they are excessive in number.”


Excused Absences Include:

  1. Medical Illness as documented by medical practice or school nurse

  2. Medical/Dental appointments as documented by medical/dental practice

  3. Legal or Court obligation as documented by appropriate paperwork (summons, etc)

  4. College visit with documentation from admissions office

  5. Death in Family - funeral observances and associated travel, as documented by guardian

  6. Religious observation

  7. Out of school suspension

  8. Parent reported Absence (max=7/year)



* Parent Reported Absence

  • Each student is allowed 7 of these per year (e.g. a student stays at home due to illness with parent permission, but no doctor appointment necessary)

  • All absences of this nature above the 7 threshold become unexcused by definition


Notification from School:

  • With each unexcused absence, the school will make a phone call to alert the family of the absence.

  • After 5 cumulative unexcused absences, you will receive a letter from the principal to remind family of policy;

  • After 10 cumulative unexcused absences, principal will send family letter, notifying of policy and future steps; District Truancy Officer & BARJ cc’d on letter (per county protocol) and may include a school-based team meeting and/or a Coordinated Service Plan or other supports offered by community partners.

  • After 15 cumulative unexcused absences, district truancy officer will work with the family to establish next steps that may include a Coordinated Service Plan meeting with family, DCF, BARJ, and HCRS (if applicable), or other interventions.

    • If CSP plan is not followed, or pattern of absence continues, district truancy officer will file with state’s attorney office for truancy; court date will be set up

  • After 20 cumulative unexcused absences, the district truancy officer will file a report with DCF for educational neglect.


Schoolwork While Absent:

  • Regardless of reasons for absence, students are expected to complete all missing work during the period of absence. In extreme cases where this is not possible, the administration will, in consultation with the counseling office and the classroom teacher, make a determination about what work is to be excused.

  • Students should be in regular attendance and must be in attendance by 8:30am on the day of an event ie. athletic or any extracurricular activity, in order to participate, unless excused by the Principal.