| Wayne Trace Local 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. The excuse shall be submitted to the principal and filed as part of the student's school record.
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. | 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. | ||
| F. | 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 bring a signed statement from the doctor, dentist, lawyer, counselor, etc. to the effect that s/he reported promptly for the appointment; | ||
| 3. | the student shall report back to school immediately after his/her appointment if school is still in session. |
| G. | Emergency of Other Set of Circumstances | |
| The Superintendent shall determine whether the reason for the absence constitutes good and sufficient cause. | ||
| H. | 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:
| A. | field trips; | |
| B. | college visits. |
Student Vacations During the School Year
See student handbook.
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. | assign the student to a truancy intervention program | |
| B. | notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of the student’s absences | |
| C. | take appropriate legal action | |
| D. | assignment to an alternative school (Note: If the District has established an alternative school, it must appear as an alternative intervention strategy.) |
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.
Each teacher is to notify his/her principal of all unexcused absences. The principal should attempt to rectify the pattern of excessive absences through contact with the student or his/her parents, utilizing one of the intervention actions listed above.
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.
Encouraging Attendance
Promoting and fostering desired student attendance habits requires a commitment from the administration, faculty, and parents. No single individual or group can - in and of itself - successfully accomplish this task.
A professional staff member's responsibility must include, but not be limited to:
| A. | providing meaningful learning experiences every day; | |
| Therefore, a student who is absent from any given class period would be missing a significant component of the course. | ||
| B. | speaking frequently of the importance of students being in class, on time, ready to participate; | |
| C. | keeping accurate attendance records (excused vs. unexcused); | |
| D. | requiring an admit slip from a student when s/he returns from an absence and invoking a consequence if s/he does not have one; | |
| E. | incorporating defined, daily participation as part of the teaching/learning process and each grading period; | |
| F. | requiring students to make up missed quizzes, tests, and other pertinent assignments before or after the regular school day and not permitting students to use instructional time to do make-up work. |
Students Leaving School During School Day
| A. | 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) | |
| B. | 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 1/31/08