5200 - ATTENDANCE

School District Of Westfield

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.

A copy of this Administrative Guideline will be provided to each student and copies will also be provided to individuals upon request.

Compulsory Student Attendance

All children between six (6) and eighteen (18) years of age shall attend school regularly during the full period and hours, religious holidays excepted, that the school in which the child is enrolled is in session until the end of the term, quarter or semester of the school year in which the child becomes eighteen (18) years of age, unless they fall under an exception outlined in this Administrative Guideline. A child who is enrolled in five (5) year-old kindergarten shall attend school regularly, religious holidays excepted, during the full period and hours that kindergarten is in session until the end of the school term.

Written Excuse for Absence

A student who is absent shall submit a written, dated, signed statement from his/her parent or guardian stating the reason for the absence and the time period of the absence. This written statement must be submitted prior to the absence if the absence is foreseeable. If the absence is not foreseeable, the statement must be submitted prior to the student's readmission to school. The statement shall be submitted to the School Attendance Officer, or his/her designee, and filed in the student's school record. The District reserves the right to verify statements and investigate absences from school.

Excused Absences

A student shall be excused from school for the following reasons:

	A.	Physical or Mental Condition

		The student is temporarily not in proper physical or mental condition to attend a school program. If the absence exceeds ten (10) days, the inability of the student to attend school due to a physical or mental condition must be certified in writing by a licensed physician, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist or psychologist or religious practitioner living and residing in Wisconsin, who by belief is exempt. The time period for which the certification is valid may not exceed thirty (30) days.

	B.	Obtaining Religious Instruction

		The student wishes to obtain religious instruction outside the school during the required school period. The time period or periods of absence shall be determined by the building principal. Such absences must be at least sixty (60) minutes but not more than 180 minutes per week. Requests for absence under this paragraph shall be denied if the student fails to attend religious instruction after requesting to be absent from his/her regular school. The supervisor of such religious instruction shall report monthly, to the principal of the school regularly attended, the names of the students who attended such weekly religious instruction. See Policy 5223 - Absences for Religious Instruction for further details.


C.	Permission of Parent or Guardian

	The student has been excused by his/her parent or guardian before the absence for any or no reason. A student may not be excused for more than ten (10) days under this paragraph and must complete any course work missed during the absence. Examples of reasons for being absent that should be counted under this paragraph include, but are not limited to, the following:

	1.	professional and other necessary appointments (e.g., medical, dental, and legal) that cannot be scheduled outside the school day

	2.	to attend the funeral of a relative

	3.	legal proceedings that require the student's presence

	4.	college visits

	5.	job fairs

	6.	vacations

D.	Religious Holiday

	The student wishes to observe a religious holiday consistent with the student's creed or belief.

E.	Suspension or Expulsion

	The student has been suspended or expelled.

F.	Program or Curriculum Modification

	The School Board has excused the student from regular school attendance to participate in a program or curriculum modification leading to high school equivalency diploma as provided by State law.


	G.	High School Equivalency - Secured Facilities

		The School Board has excused a student from regular school attendance to participate in a program leading to high school equivalency diploma in a secured correctional facility, a secured child caring institution, a secured detention facility, or a juvenile portion of a county jail, and the student and his/her parent or guardian agree that the student will continue to participate in such a program.

	H.	Child at Risk

		The student is a "child at risk" as defined under State law and is participating in a program at a technical college on either a part-time or full-time basis leading to high school graduation, as provided under State law.

A student may be excused from school, as determined by the School Attendance Officer, or his/her designee, for the following reasons:

	A.	Quarantine

		Quarantine of the student's home by a public health officer.

	B.	Illness of an Immediate Family Member

		The illness of an immediate family member.

	C.	Emergency

		An emergency that requires the student to be absent because of familial responsibilities or other appropriate reasons.

	D.	Work at Home Due to Absence of Parents

		To work at home due to the absence of the student's parents. Absences under this section shall not exceed three (3) days and not be granted to any student younger than twelve (12) years of age.

School Attendance Officer

The building principal shall be the School Attendance Officer. The School Attendance Officer shall be responsible for dealing with matters relating to school attendance and truancy. The duties of the School Attendance Officer shall include, but not be limited to the following:

	A.	Determining daily from attendance reports submitted by teachers which students enrolled in the school are absent from school and whether the absence is excused.

	B.	Providing student attendance information to individuals and agencies for purposes authorized by State law and the Board's Student Records Policy (see Board Policy 8330).

	C.	Performing the duties and responsibilities assigned to him/her under this Administrative Guideline.

Truancy

A student will be considered truant if s/he is absent part or all of one or more days from school during which the School Attendance Officer, principal, or a teacher has not been notified of the acceptable reason under these guidelines of such absence by the parent or guardian of the absent student. A student will also be considered truant if s/he has been absent intermittently for the purpose of defeating the intent of the Wisconsin Compulsory Attendance statute (Sec. 118.15, Wis. Stats.).

When a student is truant, the School Attendance Officer shall ensure that all applicable provisions of the District's Truancy Plan are carried out.

Unexcused Absences

Unexcused absences demonstrate a deliberate disregard for the educational program and are considered a serious matter. The principal, or an individual designated by the principal, will determine on a case-by-case basis the appropriate methods to deal with unexcused absences. The following methods may be considered:

	A.	counseling the student

	B.	requiring the student to make-up lost time

	C.	requiring the student to make-up course work and/or examinations, as permitted under this guideline

	D.	conferring with the student's parents

	E.	suspending the student from school

	F.	referring the student to an appropriate agency for assistance

Administrative action to address unexcused absences shall be in accord with due process, as defined in Policy 5611, the Student Code of Conduct, and other applicable Board policies.

Habitual Truancy

A student is considered a habitual truant if s/he is absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five (5) or more days on which school is held during a school semester.

When a student initially becomes a habitual truant, the School Attendance Officer shall ensure that all applicable provisions of the District's Truancy Plan are carried out.

Students with Special Needs

School administrators and teachers shall ensure that any student who, due to a specifically identifiable physical or mental impairment, exceeds or may exceed the District's limit on excused absence is referred for evaluation for eligibility either under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Chapter 115, Wis. Stats.

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.

Professional Staff Member

A professional staff member's responsibility must include, but not be limited to:

	A.	providing meaningful learning experiences every day such that a student absent from any given class period would miss 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) as directed by the School Attendance Officer, or his/her designee;

	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 (see AG 2220);

	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.

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the student's parent or guardian to ensure that their child attends school regularly. Parents are expected to provide a written excuse for all absences as required under this Guideline.

Student Responsibilities

Students are required to attend all classes and other school activities on their daily schedule, unless they have been excused from school as set forth in this Guideline.

Students Leaving School During School Day

As a general rule, 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.

Make-Up Course Work and Examinations

Students who are absent from school, whether the absence was excused or unexcused shall be permitted to make-up course work and examinations missed during the absence when they return to school. It is the student's responsibility to contact his/her teachers to determine what course work and examinations must be made-up. Teachers shall have the discretion to assign substitute course work and examination. Teachers shall also have the discretion to specify where and when examinations and course work shall be completed, including outside regular school hours. The time for completing the work shall be commensurate with the length of the absence, unless extended by the principal based upon extenuating circumstances.

A student's grade in any course shall be based on his/her performance in the instructional setting and is not reduced for reasons of conduct. If a student, violates the attendance or other rules of the school, s/he should be disciplined appropriately for the misconduct, but his/her grades should be based upon what the student can demonstrate s/he has learned.

Parents and students shall be informed of the provisions of Policy 5200 and AG 5200.

118.15, 118.153, 118.16, 118.162, Wis. Stats.