| Farwell Area Schools |
| Bylaws & Policies |
5200 - ATTENDANCE
The Board of Education as an agency of the State is required to enforce regular attendance of students. The Board recognizes that presence in the classroom enables the student to participate in instruction, class discussions, and other related activities. As such, regular attendance and classroom participation are integral to instilling incentives for the student to excel.
Attendance shall be required of all District students, except those exempted under Policy 5223 or by other provisions of State law, during the days and hours that the school is in session or during the attendance sessions to which s/he has been assigned.
A student may not attend if it is shown to the satisfaction of the Superintendent that the mental condition of the student is such that s/he cannot benefit from instruction, or that the bodily condition of the student is such as to prevent attendance at school or that s/he is receiving instruction at home from a person qualified to teach the branches of education in which instruction is required.
The Superintendent shall require, from the parent of each student or from an adult student who has been absent for any reason, a written statement of the cause for such absence. The Board reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each single absence.
Repeated infractions of Board policy requiring the attendance of enrolled students may result in the suspension or expulsion of the student from the District program.
The Board considers the following factors to be reasonable excuses for time missed at school:
| A. | illness | |
| B. | recovery from accident | |
| C. | required court attendance | |
| D. | professional appointments | |
| E. | death in the immediate family | |
| F. | observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday | |
| G. | such other good cause as may be acceptable to the Superintendent or his/her designee |
Attendance need not always be within the school facilities, but a student will be considered to be in attendance if present at any place where school is in session by authority of the Board.
The Superintendent shall develop procedures for the attendance of students which:
| A. | ensure a school session which is in conformity with requirements of the law; | |
| B. | ensure that students absent for any excusable reason have an opportunity to make up work they missed; | |
| C. | ensure the student is not given a failing grade or his/her credit is not unconditionally revoked where lack of attendance is the sole or primary determining factor, but which allow reduction in grade or denial of credit, if the student does not make appropriate use of make-up sessions provided by the instructor or administrator; | |
| D. | govern the keeping of attendance records in accordance with rules of the State Board and the Michigan Department of Education Pupil Accounting Manual, including a written electronic attendance procedure, if applicable. |
M.C.L.A. 380.1561, 380.1561(3a-3c), 380.1586(3)
Revised 3/05