Tardies

What are Tardies?

Tardy means being late. It means arriving late to school OR to a class after the scheduled start time.
- Imagine the school bell ringing to begin the day or to begin class. If your child arrives after that bell, they are tardy.
There are two kinds of tardies:
- Late to School: A student arrives after the school start time.
- Late to Class: A student arrives after the bell rings between classes (in middle and high school).
  - Students have time to change classes. They must be in their next class before the bell rings.

Tardies are excused or unexcused.
- Examples of excused tardies:
  - Early medical appointment
  - Your car broke down on the way to school
  - Family emergency
- Examples of unexcused tardies:
  - Overslept
  - Missed school bus
  - Traffic
  - Talking to friends in the halls on the way to class.
For a tardy to be excused, there must always be a note from a parent or a teacher.

Why Schools Care About Tardies:

Learning Time: If students are tardy, they miss important learning time. They can fall behind.
Disruption: Late arrivals can disrupt the class and distract other students.
Habits: Schools want to teach students the importance of being on time, which is a valuable life skill.

Warning: Schools may first give a reminder to students and parents.
Parent Notification: Parents may receive a phone call, email, or letter.
Detention: Some schools require students to stay after school or during lunch.
Loss of Privileges: Students may not be allowed to attend school events or play sports.
Serious Consequences: Too many tardies may lead to meetings with the principal. Suspension or legal action (in some states) may also be a consequence.

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