5200 - ATTENDANCE

Hamtramck Public Schools

Administrative Guidelines

5200 - ATTENDANCE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Attendance Policy:

Good school attendance is a habit every student should develop while attending elementary school. Regular attendance is essential for each student to take advantage of his/her educational opportunities. If it is necessary for a child to be absent from school, the following is required:

	A.	A phone call to the school *on the day of the absence* letting the school know why the student is absent, and when the student is expected to return to school.
	B.	Upon return to school, the student or parent/guardian must bring a note signed and dated by the parent/guardian, with a specific reason for the absence.
	C.	The student is responsible for making up any schoolwork missed due to their absence.

Excused Absences:

Absences will be excused as long as the parent/guardian notifies the school in writing, the absence is for a legitimate reason, and the absences do not become excessive. Sufficient reasons shall include, but not be limited to:

	A.	Illness of student (only fifteen (15) parent notes will be accepted)
	B.	Funeral
	C.	Family Emergency
	D.	Court
	E.	Doctor/Dental appointment
	F.	One (1) day treatment of head lice

Unexcused Absences:

Students will be unexcused unless the parent/guardian sends written notice to the school explaining the student’s absence. Sufficient reasons do not include:

	A.	Missing the bus
	B.	Oversleeping
	C.	Babysitting
	D.	Car trouble/No Transportation
	E.	Missing school to interoperate for family members
	F.	Vacations
	G.	More than one (1) day for treatment of head lice

Tardiness:

Tardiness is when a student arrives late for school. If a student arrives more than one (1) hour late to school, s/he will be considered absent for half (1/2) a day.

When a student reaches three (3) tardies, s/he will be marked absent half (1/2) a day. Every third tardy will be marked as such.

Extended Absences:

If you plan to take your child out of school for an extended period of time, your child will be released from his/her school, and you will be asked to sign an Extended Absence Release Form. Upon return to the Hamtramck School District, you will need to go to the Residency Office to re-verify your Hamtramck residency.

If a vacation is taken while school is in session, those absences will be marked as unexcused. If your vacation is over ten (10) school days, your student will receive ten (10) unexcused absences and be released from the schools active rolls. Upon return to the Hamtramck School District, you will need to go to the Residency Office to re-verify your Hamtramck residency.

Excessive Absenteeism/Truancy:

Truancy is defined as excessive absenteeism or missing school without permission. Michigan law places the responsibility on each student to attend school on a daily basis, and on each parent or guardian to send their child to school on a daily basis. The law also states that a parent or guardian who fails to ensure that their child has regular attendance is guilty of a misdemeanor and may face a fine or jail time.

Students who are absent for twenty-four (24) days or more throughout the school year will be reported as being truant. The Hamtramck Public School District is working in close cooperation with the Wayne County Prosecutors Office in a Truancy Program. The goal of the "Erase Truancy Program" is to improve attendance. It is important that parents and students comply with the school’s attendance procedures. It is the hope of the School District that together with the help of our parents/guardians we can reduce truancy, and that all children will be in attendance on a regular basis.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Michigan School Code 15, Section 73-Compulsory Education, "Every parent, guardian, or other person in the State of Michigan, having control and charge of any child between the ages of six (6) and sixteen (16) years, shall be required to send such a child to the public school during the entire school year and such attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the school year fixed by the school district in which such a child is enrolled." The Hamtramck Board of Education believes that attendance is a cooperative effort between parents, students and Hamtramck School District. State laws also require school boards and administration to be responsible for the whereabouts of students during school hours. All attendance policies will be applied with equity and consistency, keeping in mind that students are individuals, with individual needs. Rules are provided to help our students develop accountability and become more responsible citizens, not unduly punish or ridicule the person.

Parental Responsibility

	A.	Provide an attitude at home that school attendance is important and valuable to the student.
	B.	Be sure that their children will be in school every day possible.
	C.	Cooperate with the schools in corrective attendance problems.
	D.	Notify the school by 8:30 a.m. each day that the student is absent - 365-4625.
	E.	Provide doctor’s note or proper documentation (See excused absences).
	F.	Notify the school and make arrangements for materials to be sent home.
	G.	Students must be in attendance in school to participate in extracurricular activities, unless the principal or designee grants prior permission.
	H.	Emergency cards which are used for student information must be completed and on file in the main office. These cards must be updated as necessary. This is very important since these are the only numbers we will call if the student is ill.

Student Responsibility

	A.	Be in class every day that you are physically able to do so, prepared to work.
	B.	Provide necessary excuses for absence or tardies immediately upon return to school to the main office.

School Responsibility

	A.	Implement a plan that secures parents that we are a partner with them, which provides a regular system with follow-up.
	B.	Counsel parents and student as to the consequences on non-attendance.
	C.	Adhere to all legal requirements regarding the student’s rights and regarding due process.
	D.	Recognize regular attendance as a worthy achievement.
	E.	Provide parents with materials in order to continue a student’s educational progress during a prolonged absence.

Research shows that there is a direct relationship between good attendance and classroom success. Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more, and are more employable after leaving school. Likewise, poor attendance may be one (1) factor in the student not achieving the minimal expectations of the class.

FAILURE FOR NON-ATTENDANCE

	A.	Any student who exceeds twenty-four (24) days of unexcused absences in any classroom will fail for the entire year.
	B.	This would include the advisory class, which is a mandatory class.

THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WILL BE USED CONCERNING CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE:

	A.	When reaching three (3) days unexcused absence in any class, the teacher will notify the parents or guardians.
	B.	When reaching six (6) days unexcused absence in any class, letter will notify the parents or guardians.
	C.	When reaching nine (9) days unexcused absence in any class, a conference will be requested with the teacher, parents or guardians, student and principal/assistant principal.
	D.	When reaching twelve (12) days unexcused absence in any class, a conference will be requested with the teacher, parents or guardians, student and principal/assistant principal.
	E.	When reaching thirteen (13) days unexcused absence in any class, the student will be written up for juvenile court.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Attendance every hour, every day is important for the student to benefit and achieve the best possible educational experience. The school will excuse absences for the following documented reasons:

	A.	Personal illness
	B.	Funeral (Immediate family)
	C.	Medical/Dental appointment
	D.	Religious holidays
	E.	Court appearance (subpoenaed)
	F.	School related activities
	G.	School related injuries

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

All absences NOT cleared for the above reasons or in designated time will be considered unexcused/truant. Also included in unexcused/truant category:

	A.	Out of school suspension
	B.	Skipping
	C.	Leaving school without permission

TARDY PROCEDURES

Students are to be admitted to class tardy. Upon reaching the fourth tardy, students will be given an unexcused absence. This will count against the twenty-four (24) days allowed for the year.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attendance Policy

All attendance policies will be applied with equity and consistency, keeping in mind that students are individuals, with individual needs. Rules are provided to help our students develop accountability and become more responsible citizens, not to unduly punish or ridicule the person.

Parental Responsibility

	A.	Provide an attitude at home that school attendance is important and valuable to the student.
	B.	Be sure that their children will be in school every day.
	C.	Cooperate with the schools in correcting attendance problems.
	D.	Notify the school by 8:10 a.m. when absent at 892-7505, ext. 241.
	E.	Provide a doctor’s note or court documentation upon return to school stating reason for absence within seventy-two (72) hours of return to school. This is not an excused absence.
	F.	Make arrangements for materials to be sent home when the absence is more than three (3) days by calling the Counseling Office (892-7505 ext. 222).
	G.	Students must be in attendance in school to participate in extra-curricular activities, unless the principal or designee grants prior permission.
	H.	Emergency cards which are used for student information, must be completed and on file in the High School Office. These cards must be updated as necessary. Students will be released from school ONLY if the card is on file and only emergency numbers will be called.
	I.	In the case of a communicable disease (chicken pox, lice, pink eye, mumps, etc.) the child will not be allowed to return to school without a note from the doctor.
	J.	Provide a court subpoena upon returning to school for an excused absence.

Student Responsibility

	A.	Be in class every day that you are physically able to do so, prepared to work.
	B.	Provide documentation for absences or tardiness immediately upon return to school to the attendance office.
	C.	Leaving the class is detrimental to student learning. In order to maintain safety and control over student movement within the building a student must have his/her handbook with them at all times. The handbook provides a section to be filled in by the teacher that will allow us to monitor the students outside the classroom (hallways).

School Responsibility

	A.	Implement a plan that assures parents that we are a partner with them, which provides a regular system with follow-up.
	B.	Counsel parent and student as to the consequences of non-attendance.
	C.	Adhere to all legal requirements regarding the students’ rights regarding due process.
	D.	Recognize regular attendance as a worthy achievement.
	E.	Provide parents with materials in order to continue a student’s educational progress during a prolonged absence.

Research shows that there is a direct relationship between good attendance and classroom success. Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more, and are more employable after leaving high school. Likewise, poor attendance may be one (1) factor in the student non achieving the minimal expectations of the class.

HAMTRAMCK HIGH ATTENDANCE POLICY

The purpose of this policy is to encourage students to assume responsibility for class attendance and develop the proper attitude toward promptness and attendance required for successful employment.

Education involves more than just completing assigned class work. It includes the self-discipline of attending class, participating in group and team activities, listening to the ideas, thoughts and opinions of people of differing backgrounds or cultures, contributing to class discussions and other related educational experiences. Therefore, attendance will be one (1) factor that determines a student’s grade in a course.

	A.	Responsibility for school attendance rests with the student and their parent or legal guardian. Students are responsible for reporting to class on time.
	B.	Attendance is taken and recorded each class period.
	C.	Hamtramck High School students cannot exceed a maximum of twelve (12) absences per semester class. High school students may lose credit for exceeding twelve (12) absences.
	D.	Involvement in school sponsored activities, in school suspensions, documented long-term illness, hospitalization, death in immediate family, subpoenaed court appearances, one (1) college visitation (approved by the counseling office)/Armed Forces Recruitment visit will not count toward the twelve (12) absences.
	E.	The Attendance Committee will review extenuating circumstances that lead to more than twelve (12) absences. This committee consists of two (2) administrators, two (2) counselors, and one (1) teacher union representative. A parent is responsible to request a meeting in a timely fashion.
	F.	Excessive absences from school or failure to regularly attend all scheduled classes may result in a student being dropped from school.
	G.	Students who drop from school voluntarily or are dropped because of non-attendance will be required to have demonstrated readiness to return to school prior to their re-admission.

THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES WILL BE USED CONCERNING CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE:

	A.	When reaching three (3) unexcused absences in any class, the parents or guardians will be notified by mail.
	B.	When reaching six (6) unexcused absences in any class, the parents or guardians will be notified by mail.
	C.	When reaching nine (9) unexcused absences in any class, the parents or guardians will be notified by mail. Contact with the parent may be made by the at-risk counselor.
	D.	When reaching twelve (12) unexcused absences in any class, a conference will be requested with the teacher, parents or guardians, students and principal/assistant principal through the at-risk counselor.
	E.	When reaching thirteen (13) days unexcused absence in any class, the student will not receive credit for that course but must still attend class. Behavior problems or truancy will result in further assertive discipline.
	F.	A student who reaches thirteen (13) days unexcused absence in more than half (1/2) of his/her classes will be considered for suspension and/or released from school for the remainder of the current semester.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

All absences NOT cleared for the aforementioned reasons or in designated time (72 hours) will be considered unexcused/truant. Also included in unexcused/truant category:

	A.	Out of school suspension
	B.	Skipping
	C.	Leaving school without permission

ABSENCES DUE TO VACATIONS

Students leaving for vacation while school is in session will be considered as an unexcused absence. If you are absent during scheduled exams days, an "E" will result for the missed exam and averaged into your semester grade.

TARDY PROCEDURE

Students are required to report to class before the tardy bell rings.

	A.	The teacher will mark the student tardy provided they are in the classroom within the first ten (10) minutes of class.
	B.	Any student arriving more than ten (10) minutes late will be marked absent.
	C.	An accumulation of three (3) tardies in any one (1) hour will result in one (1) unexcused absence.
	D.	Please note that excessive absences will result in loss of credit and/or removal from the class.