School Wide Attendance Plan:

1. Each school shall develop a schoolwide attendance plan that complies with state and District policies. Development of a schoolwide attendance plan shall include use of evidence-based and evidence-informed research findings, tiered intervention strategies, faculty and staff consensus, community input, and involve the respective School Performance director.
   1. Tiered intervention strategies may include: monitoring absenteeism data; engaging students and parents; recognize good and improved attendance; providing personal outreach; and removing barriers to attendance (See, Exhibit-1-Tiered Interventions).
   2. For school level sample plans see Exhibit-2, 3, and 4.     
2. Upon registration, the District or schools will provide parents/legal guardians and students a copy of Policy—500.35—Student Attendance and a copy of the individual school plan. The individual school plan will be available and readily accessible on the school’s website.
3. A compulsory education notice will be included in online registration and in other publications sent to community and patrons, and on school/district websites.
4. Each school must have a plan to monitor and track student attendance and chronic absenteeism. The plan should include appropriate interventions and incentives to help students who may have attendance issues and/or are truant from school.
   1. Teachers must accurately record student attendance daily for students in elementary schools, and during each period at the secondary level.
   2. School staff will follow guidelines for absence reporting and coding, as established by School Performance (See, Exhibit—5—Attendance Codes).
5. School principals will submit the school attendance plan annually to their respective School Performance director for review and approval.

Student Attendance:

1. Parents and students are jointly responsible for regular attendance at school.
2. Students may be excused from school attendance for valid excused absences: illness, mental or behavioral health of the school-age child; medical appointment, family emergencies, family death, education leave/family event, an approved school activity, observance of religious holidays, or an excuse consistent with the student’s IEP, or Section 504 accommodation plan.
3. All absences are considered unexcused until the parent communicates with the school regarding the student’s absence, and the absence is resolved by the school staff.
4. Parents must excuse each day of their student’s absence.
5. In addition to valid excused absences, elementary and middle school students are allowed five (5) parent/legal guardian excused absences or (5) full-school days, or its equivalent in time based on a secondary schedule in a given school year.
6. Scheduled Pre-approved Education  Leave is considered a valid excused absence. A student may be allowed up to ten (10) days for education leave in a given school year, if prior arrangements have been made with the school for the student to make up his/her homework.   An education leave form shall be provided to the school administration in advance of the education leave.
   1. Additional days for education leave are subject to approval by the School Performance Director.
7. Students with valid excused absences will be expected to make-up work and assignments, however it is their responsibility to obtain make-up work from their teachers. Students with unexcused absences may be able to make-up work subject to approval by the principal.  A student’s academic grade should not be penalized for absences or tardies.
8. A suspended student is expected to make-up work and will be provided an opportunity to make-up work within a reasonable time-frame as determined by the school plan, subject to review by the Office of School Performance.
9. A student with an approved school absence is expected to make-up work and will be provided an opportunity to make-up work within a reasonable time-frame as determined by the school plan, subject to review by the Office of School Performance.
10. If a parent fails to make prior arrangements with the principal for extended student absences and if the school cannot locate the parent or student to verify the reason for the student’s prolonged absence, the student’s absence is unexcused.
    1. If a student’s unexcused absences extend beyond ten (10) consecutive school days, and diligent efforts have been taken to verify the reason for the extended absence without success, the student may be withdrawn by the principal.
11. Students who have been withdrawn by the principal may be re-enrolled when he or she returns to school.

Disclosure Statements:

Secondary school teachers shall develop a disclosure statement for each course in compliance with District and school guidelines.

1. All disclosure statements must be consistent with the District attendance policy and receive administrative approval prior to distribution to students and parents.
2. Disclosure statements shall include, but are not limited to, grading expectations for course components, including: assessments, assignments, and citizenship expectations.
3. Procedures and timelines shall be established for making up work and earning points/credit missed due to a legitimate absence.
4. All students shall receive disclosure statements for all classes on or before the fifth day of enrollment in the course. Parents and students shall be encouraged to return signed disclosure statements in a timely manner, typically two to four days.
5. Teachers may award a nominal amount of points/credit for the return of signed disclosure statements within the established time frame.
6. A current copy of each teacher’s disclosure statement will be maintained by the school and be accessible in an electronic format.

School Age Children Exempt from School Attendance:

Exemptions to the compulsory attendance requirement include the following:

1. A school-age child over age 16 may receive a partial release from school to enter employment, or attend a trade school, if the school-age child has completed the eighth grade. School-age children exempted under this provision are required to attend part-time schooling or home schooling as prescribed by the board.
2. On an annual basis, a school age child may receive a full release, from attending a public or part-time school or class if:
   1. A school-age child has completed the work required for graduation from high school, or has demonstrated mastery of required skills and competencies.
   2. A school-age child is in a physical or mental condition which renders attendance inexpedient and impracticable (the condition must be certified by a competent physician).
   3. A school age minor’s employment provides proper influences and adequate opportunities for education.
   4. The Superintendent or designee has determined that a school-age child over the age of sixteen (16) is unable to profit from attendance at school because of inability or a continuing negative attitude toward school regulations and discipline.
3. A school age child is excused from attendance, if the child’s parent files a signed and notarized affidavit with the District that the child will:
   1. Attend home school; and
   2. The parent assumes sole responsibility for the education of the child, except to the extent a school-age child is dual enrolled in a public school.
   3. A signed and notarized affidavit filed with the District will remain from year to year as along as a school-age child attends home school and the District remains the school-age child’s District of residence.
4. School Performance will issue a certificate stating the school-age child is excused from attendance for the specific school year:
   1. within thirty (30) days after receipt of a signed and notarized affidavit filed; and
   2. on or before August 1 each year thereafter unless:
      1. the school-age child enrolls in a school within the district;
      2. the parent notifies the District that the child no longer attends a home school; or
      3. the district of residence has changed.

Compulsory Education and Truancy Notification:

In accordance with state law, a school adminstrator, school resource officers, or truancy specialist may issue:

1. A notice of compulsory education violation to a parent of a school-age child if the school-age child is in grade 1 through 6; and is truant without a valid excuse at least five times during the school year.
   1. A notice of compulsory education violation shall:
      1. direct the parent of the school-age child to meet with school authorities to discuss school attendance problems;
      2. designate the school authorities with whom the parent is required to meet;
      3. state that it is a class B misdemeanor for the parent of the school-age child who is in grade 1 through 6 to intentionally or without good cause fails to meet with designated school authorities to discuss attendance problems or fail to prevent the school-age child from being truant without a valid excuse five or more times during the remainder of the school year;
      4. be served on the school-age parent by personal service or certified mail; and
      5. not be issued unless the school age child has been truant at least five times during the school year.
2. A truancy notification to a student and his/her parent for chronic absences.
   1. A truancy notice will not be issued to a student who is:
      1. less than twelve (12) years old; or in a grade below 7; or
      2. exempt from school attendance in accordance with state law.
   2. A truancy notice will direct the student and the parent to meet with school authorities to discuss truancy; and to cooperate with school authorities to assist the student with regular attendance.