5200 - ATTENDANCE

The School Board of Gadsden County

Bylaws & Policies

5200 - ATTENDANCE

The educational program offered by this District is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in the schools during the days and hours that the school is in session. School attendance shall be the responsibility of parents and students. Absences shall be reported to the school attendance office by the parent or adult student as soon as practicable.

In accordance with statute, the Superintendent shall require, from the parent of each student of compulsory school age or from an adult student who has been absent from school or from class for any reason, a statement of the cause for such absence. The School Board reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each single absence.

In addition, educators shall have the responsibility of encouraging regular attendance of students, maintaining accurate attendance records, and following reporting procedures prescribed by the Superintendent.

Provision shall be made for promoting school attendance through adjustment of personal problems, education of parents, and enforcement of the compulsory attendance laws and related child-welfare legislation. Accordingly:

	A.	teachers shall record absentees each period of the school day and report those absences;
	B.	parents should be notified each time their child is absent insofar as possible;
	C.	when a student has been absent three (3) consecutive days and the school has been unable to ascertain the reason for the absences, the absences shall be investigated or at any other time if deemed necessary by the school principal.
	D.	absences must be reported to the school by the parent or adult student as soon as practicable. Failure to report and explain the absence(s) shall result in unexcused absence(s). The final authority for determining acceptability of the reason for the absence(s) shall rest with the principal.

School-Based Intervention Procedures for Truant Students

The Board requires that the following school-based intervention procedures be adhered to for truant students:

	A.	After three (3) days of unexcused absences, within a ninety (90) day period, a parent/guardian/student contact/conference is conducted by teacher/school designee.
	B.	After five (5) days of unexcused absences, within a ninety (90) day period, a referral is made to the principal to send a certified letter to parents/guardians and possibly to convene a student study team. NOTE: Student study team is to convene when a student misses five (5) unexcused absences within thirty (30) calendar days, or when a student misses ten (10) days within ninety (90) calendar days.
	C.	After ten (10) days of unexcused absences within a ninety (90) day period, the student is referred to the visiting teacher.
	D.	After fifteen (15) unexcused absences within a ninety (90) day period, the student is considered "habitually truant," pursuant to F.S. 1003.27(b).

The Florida Legislature enacted requirements that school districts report to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) the names, birthdates, sex, and social security numbers of minors who attain the age of fourteen (14) and accumulate fifteen (15) unexcused absences in a period of ninety (90) calendar days. The legislation further provides that those minors under age eighteen (18) who thus fail to satisfy attendance requirements or drop out of (voluntarily withdraw from) school will be ineligible for driving privilege. Additional information about procedures and waivers is available from the school administration or guidance office.

Chronic truancy or deliberate nonattendance in excess of fifteen (15) school days within a semester shall be sufficient grounds for withdrawal of students sixteen (16) years of age or older, who are subject to compulsory school attendance under F.S. 1003.21.

Excused Absence

If the absences are excused, all educational requirements for the course shall be met before a passing grade and/or credit is assigned. The student shall have a reasonable amount of time, up to ten (10) school days, to complete make-up work for excused absences. Principals may grant extensions to the make-up time limit for extenuating circumstances. Regarding make-up of the work missed as a result of unexcused absences, each principal shall establish site-specific policies that encourage both regular attendance and high academic achievement, and shall review and modify these policies from time-to-time as required to maintain and improve their effectiveness.

The Board considers the following factors to be reasonable excuses for time missed at school:

	A.	Personal illness of the student (medical evidence may be required by the principal or designee for absences exceeding five (5) consecutive days).
	B.	Court appearance of the student.
	C.	Medical appointment of the student.
	D.	An approved school activity (absences recorded but not reported).
	E.	Insurmountable problems. Prior permission by principal or designee is required except in the case of an emergency.
	F.	Other absences with prior approval of the Principal.
	G.	Attendance at a center under Children and Families Services supervision.
	H.	Significant community events with prior permission of the principal. When more than one (1) school is involved, the Area Superintendent will determine the status of the absence.
	I.	Religious holiday (See Policy 5225).
	J.	Death in the immediate family.

Absences not included in excused absences listed above shall be unexcused.

Pursuant to State law unexcused tardiness or absences shall not be grounds for suspension from school, but may result in other disciplinary consequences, such as detention or placement in existing alternative programs.

Any student who fails to attend any regularly scheduled class and has no excuse for absence should be referred to the appropriate administrator. Disciplinary action should include notification to parents or guardians.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures that:

	A.	provide the student and his/her parents with the opportunity to challenge the attendance record prior to notification and that such notification complies with applicable Board rules;
	B.	govern the keeping of attendance records in accordance with the rules of the State Board;
	C.	identify the habitual truant, investigate the cause(s) of his/her behavior, and consider modification of his/her educational program to meet particular needs and interests;
	D.	require that students whose absence has been excused have an opportunity to make up work they missed and receive credit for the work, if completed;
	E.	require 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 or other appropriate accommodation.

Such regulations should provide that a student's grade in any course is 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.

Whenever any student has a total of fifteen (15) days of unexcused absence from school during any semester, s/he will be considered habitually absent. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to inform the student and his/her parents of the record of excessive absences as well as 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.

Students may not be given excused absences to remain out of school for the purpose of working, unless the job is an integral part of the student's instructional program.

F.S. 1002.20, 1003.21, 1003.24, 1003.26, 1003.27, 1006.09