Attendance Policy
The Board believes that the right to attend public schools places upon students the accompanying responsibility to be faithful in attendance. Regular attendance is essential for a student’s successful progress in the instructional program.
With this in mind the Board mandates that a total of nine (9) absences per semester shall be considered the maximum number of absences allowed for a student to pass a class or course. Decisions regarding extenuating circumstances causing more than nine (9) absences per semester will be considered on an individual basis. The primary circumstance to be considered will be illness. However, this circumstance must be verified by a physician’s statement.
Excused Absences
1. Illness;
2. Inclement weather which would be dangerous to the life or health of the student if the student attended school;
3. Legal quarantine;
4. Death in the immediate family (parent, brother, sister, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin or other person as designated by principal);
5. Emergency conditions as determined by the Superintendent or principal; or
6. Permission of principal and consent of parent.
When a student returns to school after being absent, the student shall bring a written statement from the student’s parent (or a physician’s statement in the instance of an illness) with an explanation of the reason for the absence, the date of the absence, and the parent’s signature. A student who has been absent shall make arrangements with the student’s teacher to engage in activities which will enable the student to learn those facts/skills/concepts which were missed during the absence. Make-up work shall be complete in accordance with procedures and timelines established by the school principal. Should a student’s absences in any class exceed five (5) days in one nine-week period or nine (9) days in any one semester, the student shall be referred to the District Attendance Officer (“DAO”). The DAO will assist the school administrative staff in a full investigation of the circumstances surrounding such absences. Should truancy be determined, all applicable state laws/procedures will be followed. Conferences which include the student, the parent, counselor(s), administrator(s), and other appropriate school personnel shall be held to resolve the issue of truancy.
The Superintendent with the assistance of school principals, shall develop and implement procedures for ensuring a systematic approach to the management of attendance in all schools. Such procedures shall require school personnel to carefully verify and follow through on student absences, prepare daily and other summary reports, and maintain close communications with parents regarding attendance.
Unexcused Absences
Any absence that does not fall under the categories listed as an excused absence will be considered an unexcused absence and the student truant. Following one (1) unexcused absence/first truancy, the student’s parent/guardian shall be notified that the student was truant and the date of the truancy. Should a student accumulate five (5) unexcused absences during the school year, the District Attendance Officer (DAO) will be notified and an attendance conference will be conducted and/or referral to the Early Warning Program provided by the Juvenile Court System. Attendance at one of these conferences is mandatory except where prior arrangements have been made or an emergency exists. Should a student accumulate seven (7) unexcused absences during the school year, the DAO shall consider filing a complaint/petition with the Family Court.
If a student does not bring a note for an excusable absence, he/she will have three (3) school days (including date of return) to have an “excused absence” slip issued. After this time passes the absence is “unexcused” and will remain as such.
Students who have unexcused absences are not entitled to receive credit for make-up work or to receive credit for tests, projects, etc., missed during the absence. School days missed as a result of suspension or expulsion are considered unexcused and no make-up work, tests, projects, etc., are required to be given or credit issued.
Truancy
The Board shall not tolerate truancy or habitual and unlawful absence from school. The parent is responsible for requiring any student under the parent’s control or charge to attend school regularly except for legal absences as defined by Alabama School law and State Board of Education rules and regulations.
Any student who has five (5) or more unexcused absences in any class during the school year shall be reported to the District Attendance Officer who shall consider filing a truancy complaint/petition with the Family Court. Three (3) unexcused tardies to a class or to school shall be counted as one (1) unexcused absence.