DISTRICT FOUR ATTENDANCE POLICY
2017-2018
Under the Education Improvement Act, the State Board of Education made provisions to monitor student attendance. Under Section S9-65-90 of the Attendance Regulation, the Board amended the 1976 Code to read:
“The State Board of Education shall establish regulations defining lawful and unlawful absences beyond those specifically named in this article and additional regulations as are necessary for the orderly enrollment so students so as to provide for uniform dates of entrance. These regulations shall require: (1) that school officials immediately intervene to encourage the student’s future attendance when the student has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences, and (2) that the school administration shall promptly approve or disapprove any student absence in excess of 10 days. As used in this section, “intervene” means to identify the reasons for the student’s continued absence and to develop a plan in conjunction with the student and his parent or guardian to improve his future attendance.”
Lawful Absences
1. Students who are ill and whose attendance in school would endanger their health.
2. Students in whose immediate family there is a serious illness or death.
3. Students may be excused from attendance in school for recognized religious holidays of their faith.
4. Students may be excused from attendance in school due to emergency conditions that are approved by the principal as excusable.
Unlawful Absences
1. Students who are willfully absent without acceptable cause with the knowledge of their parent(s). Some examples of these types of excuses are truancy, shopping, birthdays, missing the bus, fishing/hunting, vacation, cleaning house, babysitting, or gainful employment not approved by the school authority. This list is not inclusive.
2. Students who are willfully absent without the knowledge of their parent(s)
3. Absences not verified by written permission of parent within three days of return to school after an absence. Phone calls are not acceptable excuses, although it is nice to know when the student will not be attending.
After three consecutive or a total of five unlawful absences, school officials shall identify the reason for the child’s continued absence and develop a plan in conjunction with the student/parent to improve future attendance. At the eighth (8th) day of unlawful absence, a referral will be made to the court for enforcement of the compulsory attendance law.
High School Credit
In each class where high school credit may be awarded, a student must attend a minimum number of days each instructional period before receiving consideration for credit, unless the school administration grant approval for each excessive absence in accordance with the board policy. For a semester course (90 days), a minimum of 85 days of attendance is required to obtain ½ credit. For a year long course (180 days), a minimum of 170 days of attendance is required to obtain one credit.
Special Note
After the tenth (10th) absence, only doctor excuses will be acceptable. In hardship cases or under special circumstances, absences may be approved at the time of the absence or prior to the absence by the principal.
Please sign that you have read the above policy and return it for placement in your child’s permanent record.
I have read and understand the school attendance policy.
Student’s Name:______
Teacher’s Name: ______
Parent’s Signature: ______Date:______
School: _Woodruff Primary School__