School Social Worker

Bridges is committed to the educational success of your child. Therefore, we need your cooperation in assisting us in this process. It is important that your students are at school and on time to receive the maximum benefits from instruction.

IT’S THE LAW As parents, it is your responsibility to ensure your child attends school! NC attendance law 115C-378 requires all students enrolled in school to be in attendance. At 10 unexcused absences, parents can be held legally responsible for student nonattendance. Please see your school social worker or school counselor for information on the N.C. attendance law and WCPSS policy.

School Attendance Policies

Coming to school every day, ready to learn, is important for your child's success -- and it's required by state law (NC Compulsory Attendance Law) for children between the ages of 7 and 16.

What to do when your student is absent?

-Submit a written note with the date of absence or absences and the reason.

-Note is to be submitted within 2 days of the student's return to school

-Note is to be turned in at the main office, in the box labeled "Absent Notes"

Excused absences include:

illness or injury
a death in the family
health care appointments (you can request the provider's office to provide a note for school)
court appearances
religious observance
natural disasters
outside educational opportunities (you'll need to complete this form in advance)

What to expect:

3 unexcused absences- The teacher will make verbal and/or written contact with the parent

6 unexcused absences- The 6-day 1700 attendance letter will be mailed home

School Social Worker will make contact with the parent to analyze the causes of absences and help the parent/ guardian develop a plan for improvement

10 unexcused absences- School Social Worker will discuss the attendance contract with the parent or medical documentation may be requested

15 excused/unexcused absences- Determination will be made if it is appropriate to submit a court referral

25 excused/unexcused absences- 25 Day Attendance letter with policy WCPSS 600 R&P-H mailed to the parent/guardian regarding policy and law violation may result in possible retention

30 excused/unexcused absences- Determination will be made about if the student should be retained because of absences per Board Policy 6000.7 & WCPSS 6000 R&P-G

Did You Know?

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful, and on track to graduation.

• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.

• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

• Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.

• Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.

• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job