| Whitmore Lake Public Schools |
| 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 excusable reasons for absence from 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 | |
| C. | Quarantine of the Home | |
| This is limited to the length of the quarantine as fixed by the proper health officials. | ||
| D. | Death of a Relative | |
| E. | 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. |
Absences that do not accumulate against this guideline include field trips.
Student Vacations During the School Year
Students are permitted to go on vacation during the school year without penalty (except the week ending each semester). The purpose of this administrative guideline is to accommodate parents who must to take their vacations during the school year because of company (industry) policies and the desire to enjoy that time as a family.
| A. | Whenever a proposed absence-for-vacation is requested, parents must discuss it with the principal. The length of absence should be made clear, and those involved should have an opportunity to express their views on the potential effects of the absence. The District will only approve a student's absence for a vacation when s/he will be in the company of his/her own parent but not other students' parents. If a student is absent for any other type of vacation, s/he will be considered unexcusably absent from school and subject to truancy regulations. | |
| B. | The student may be given approximate assignments and materials for completion. | |
| C. | Separate daily assignments may be given. | |
| D. | The time missed will be counted as an authorized, unexcused absence, but shall not be a factor in determining grades unless make-up work is not completed. |
Truancy
A student shall be considered truant each day or part of the day s/he is unexcusably absent from his/her assigned location. Absence is defined as nonpresence in the assigned location any time beyond the tardiness limit. A student will be considered tardy rather than absent if s/he is in his/her assigned location within ten (10) minutes after the official start of the school day or activity.
Truancy demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the educational program and is considered as a serious matter. Administrative action taken will be as follows:
| A. | A record of the truancy will be entered in the student's record file. | |
| B. | 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.
Truant students who are minor parents are to be reported to the County Family Independence Agency.
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. | incorporating defined, daily participation as part of the teaching/learning process and each grading period (see AG 2220); | |
| E. | 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 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. | |
| 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 certificated teacher if prior approval has been granted by the principal.
| A. | 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. | |
| B. | Students will be given the opportunity to make up work missed due to suspension. The make-up work must be completed and presented to the teacher upon his/her return to school. Tests missed during the period of suspension may be made up by the students by contacting the teacher on the day of his/her return to school. The teacher, at his/her convenience, may administer the test or assign alternate written work in lieu of the test missed. | |
| C. | A student wishing to make up work must call his/her teacher to obtain assignments. |
Tardiness
| A. | Students not in homeroom or in class within ten (10) minutes of the start of class are considered tardy. | |
| B. | High School/Middle School 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 requested to refer cases of chronic tardiness to the principal. |