| Upper Arlington City School District |
| Administrative Guidelines |
5200 - ATTENDANCE
The Board of Education requires all students enrolled in the schools of this District to attend school regularly in accordance with the laws of the State. The District's educational program is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. The regular contact of students with one another in the classroom and their participation in a well-planned instructional activity under the tutelage of a competent teacher are vital to this purpose.
Excusable Reasons for Absence
The District accepts only the following as reasonable excuses for time missed at school. Each absence shall be explained in writing and signed by the student's parents either in writing or by a phone call.
A written excuse for absence from school may be approved for one (1) or more of the following reasons or conditions:
| A. | Personal Illness | |
| The principal may require a doctor's confirmation if s/he deems it advisable. | ||
| B. | Illness in the Family Necessitating the Presence of the Child | |
| The principal may require a doctor's confirmation and an explanation as to why the child's absence was necessary. | ||
| C. | Quarantine of the Home | |
| This is limited to the length of the quarantine as fixed by the proper health officials. | ||
| D. | Death in the Family | |
| This is limited to a period of three (3) days unless a reasonable cause may be shown for a longer absence. | ||
| E. | Necessary Work at Home Due to Absence or Incapacity of Parent(s)/ Guardian(s) | |
| Any absence arising because of this condition shall only apply to a child over fourteen (14) years of age and shall not extend for a period longer than five (5) days and can be renewed for five (5) additional days. At no time, shall such excuse permit a student to be absent from school for a period of more than ten (10) consecutive days. | ||
| At the discretion of the Superintendent or his/her designee, a student may be excused for a longer period of time than ten (10) days if a child's parent or guardian has recently died or become totally or partially incapacitated and there is no older brother or sister living in the home who is out of school. In such cases, the Superintendent or his/her designee may request a certificate of a physician attesting to the physical condition of the parent of guardian. | ||
| F. | Observation or Celebration of a Bona Fide Religious Holiday | |
| Any student shall be excused for the purpose of observing or celebrating a bona fide religious holiday consistent with his/her creed or belief. | ||
| G. | Absence During the School Day for Professional Appointments | |
| Parents are to be encouraged to schedule medical, dental, legal, and other necessary appointments other than during the school day. Since this is not always possible, when a student is to be absent for part of the day: |
| 1. | the student shall have a statement to that effect from his/her parents; | ||
| 2. | the student shall report back to school immediately after his/her appointment if school is still in session. |
| H. | Emergency of Other Set of Circumstances | |
| The Superintendent shall determine whether the reason for the absence constitutes good and sufficient cause. | ||
| I. | Service as Precinct Officer at a Primary, Special or General Election | |
| Students selected as precinct officials through the program set forth in Policy 5725 shall be excused from school on the day of an election at which the student serves as a precinct official. |
Absences that do not accumulate against this guideline include field trips and college visits.
Planned Absence
The Board believes that regular attendance, for the number of days prescribed by State law, is essential if the students are to receive the maximum benefit from the education program of the District.
Absences are assumed to serve as a deterrent to expected academic performance. Excessive absenteeism interferes with the valuable teacher-student contact in the classroom. For these reasons, parents/guardians and students are strongly urged to arrange planned absence only when it is an utmost necessity. Parents/Guardians have the responsibility for making sound decisions regarding their child’s capability of missing valuable classroom time.
The Board has determined reasons for which students may request planned absences that would be excusable following the absence:
| A. | an emergency for which it is possible to give prior notice to the principal that was, in the principal’s judgment, good and sufficient cause for absence from school; | |
| B. | vacation authorized by parents or guardians; | |
| C. | college visitations; | |
| D. | non-school sponsored educational activities; | |
| E. | circumstances other than (A), (B), (C), and (D) above that in the judgment of the Superintendent or the principal as the Superintendent’s designee, constitute a good and sufficient cause for absence from school. |
An absence planned in advance for one of the reasons stated above, to become an excused, absence must meet the following guidelines:
| A. | The parent/guardian must notify the principal regarding the planned absence by phone or in person in advance of the planned absence. (A ten (10) day notification is desirable, if possible). | |
| B. | The parent/guardian must sign a form (see Form 5200 F1) in advance of the absence stating the reason for the absence, assuring the accuracy of the request for planned absence, stipulating that all conditions will be met, and indicating that the parent/guardian assumes full responsibility for the student’s absence. | |
| C. | Failure to comply with condition in (A) or (B) will result in an unexcused absence for those classes missed. In case of an unexcused absence the following will occur: |
| 1. | The student will receive a grade of zero (0) for all assigned work missed during the absence. | ||
| 2. | The parent/guardian will be notified of the unexcused absence. | ||
| 3. | Appeal may be made to the building principal. |
At the high school and middle schools, guidance counselors will be informed by the principal regarding student planned absence requests for their review and possible contact with parents. At the elementary schools, this same procedure will be followed with the classroom teachers.
Although teachers will assist the student who misses school because of a planned absence, parents/guardians should realize that teachers must place a higher priority on conducting class activities that benefit those students who remain in school during periods of high student absenteeism than on preparing make-up or supplemental assignments for absent students.
| A. | The teachers will be expected to continue to teach the adopted curriculum regardless of the number students absent. | |
| B. | The teachers will give assignments for work missed upon the student’s return to school. |
The ultimate responsibility for completing assignments as prescribed by the adopted curriculum rests with the student.
| A. | The student will be responsible for obtaining the missed assignments form the teacher. | |
| B. | The student will be responsible for obtaining notes, etc. as needed from students who attended class lectures, movies, and demonstrations. | |
| C. | The student is responsible for completing all class assignments and examinations. |
| 1. | The days allotted for completion of assignments will be equal to the number of days absent. | ||
| 2. | The exception to the above rule will be assignments given ten (10) or more days prior to the planned absence (i.e. long-term projects, papers, presentations, etc.). Such assignments will be due or arranged for presentation within two (2) days of the student’s return to school. | ||
| 3. | Student requests for extensions of the allotted time must be approved by the building principal. |
| D. | If a student cannot complete the assignment or examination before the end of the grading period, then an "incomplete" will be given. |
Truancy and Habitual Absence
A student shall be considered truant each day s/he is absent without excuse
from his/her assigned location.Truancy demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the educational program and is considered a serious matter for which administrative action will be taken as follows:
| A. | No credit will be recorded for work missed as result of truancy. | |
| B. | A record of the truancy will be entered in the student's record file. | |
| C. | A parent conference may be held. |
The disciplining of truant students shall be in accord with Board policies and due process (as defined in Policy 5611) and the Student Code of Conduct.
A student will be considered "habitually truant" under State law if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for five (5) or more consecutive school days, for seven (7) or more school days in one (1) month, or twelve (12) or more school days in one (1) school year.
A student will be considered "chronically truant" under State law if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for seven (7) or more consecutive school days, for ten (10) or more school days in one (1) month, or fifteen (15) or more school days in one (1) school year.
If a student is "habitually truant" or "chronically truant" and the student’s parent(s), guardian(s), or custodian(s) has failed to cause the student’s attendance, a complaint shall be filed with the Judge of the Juvenile Court. The principal may also take any of the following intervention actions:
| A. | notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of the student’s absences | |
| B. | take appropriate legal action |
A student will be considered "habitually absent" under state law when s/he has accumulated during a semester or term ten (10) consecutive school days or fifteen (15) total school days of absence without legitimate excuses. The principal shall inform the student and his/her parent(s), guardian(s), or custodian(s) of the record of excessive absences as well as of the District’s intent to notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, if appropriate, and the Judge of the Juvenile Court of the student’s excessive absences.
If the truancy persists, and the student becomes "habitually truant", "chronically truant", or "habitually absent", the Superintendent shall notify the student and his/her parents, guardian, or custodian, in writing, that the Superintendent will notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and the Judge of the Juvenile Court of the child's persistent absence unless the student or his/her parents wish to challenge the record. They are to be notified that the absence information has been provided to the Superintendent, that as a result of that information the child’s temporary driver instruction permit or driver’s license will be suspended or the opportunity to obtain such a permit or license will be denied, and that they may appear in the principal's office to challenge such information at a scheduled date and time which shall be no earlier than three (3) days or later than five (5) days after the date of the notification. The principal may grant an extension, if requested by the child or the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian.
Notification will be sent within two (2) weeks after the Superintendent receives the information or the conclusion of the hearing if the determination that the student did not have a legitimate excuse for the absences is upheld. The student's name, address, birthdate, school, district, and attendance record shall be sent to the Juvenile Judge in writing and to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles in the manner designated by the Registrar.
Students Leaving School During School Day
No staff member shall permit or cause any student to leave the school prior to the regular hour of dismissal except with the knowledge and approval of the principal and with the knowledge and approval of the student's parents. (see Form 5230 F1)
No student will be released to any government agency without proper warrant or written parental permission except in the event of an emergency as determined by the principal.
Make-Up Opportunities
A student may make-up units of study with a properly licensed teacher if prior approval has been granted by the principal.
Students will be given the opportunity for making up work missed due to approved absences. The length of time for completion of make-up work shall be commensurate with the length of the absence.
A student wishing to make-up work should contact his/her teacher to obtain assignments.
Tardiness
| A. | Students not in homeroom or in class when the late bell rings are considered tardy. | |
| B. | All students who are tardy to school must report to the principal's office to sign in. | |
| C. | When a teacher detains a student after class, s/he shall issue a late pass for the student's next class. | |
| D. | Teachers are to refer cases of chronic tardiness to the principal. |
Revised 2/29/08