Subject:

Attendance

School attendance is supported by studies, which show that attendance is instrumental in student performance. Students who are chronically absent from school will not perform as well as their classmates who attend school regularly. Consistency in attendance is vital to a student’s progress both academically and socially. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to cause the child to attend school and to inform the school of each and every absence. School personnel will attempt to contact the home if the absence has not been reported to ensure the child is not home alone.

Absence

1. Parent/guardian is expected to notify the school regarding a student's absence on or before the day of the absence. An absence must be reported either by note or phone call within 24 hours of the date of the absence or the absence will be considered unexcused. The absence line is 727-1272.

2. Schoolwork missed because of the absence will be made up at the discretion of the classroom teacher.

Tardiness

1. Tardiness is defined as arrival to a class or homeroom after the established beginning time. Students are tardy if they are not in their classroom and ready for instruction to begin at 8:35 a.m. (Exceptions include bus problems, student breakfast, and school business.)

2. Students are required to check in at the school office if tardy for class. Adjustments are then made to attendance records.

3. When a student reaches 3 tardies, a letter will be sent to parents/guardians notifying them of the problem.

Excessive Absences and Tardies

Our school policy is based on Minn. Stat. Ch. 260A, which defines a "continuing truant" as a student who has been absent without valid excuse for three (3) days in a single school year if the child is in elementary school.

Excused absences

1. If a student is ill 3 or more consecutive days from school, the parent/guardian must provide a doctor’s note verifying the illness.

2. After 6 days of excused absences (not consecutive) within a trimester, a letter will be sent out notifying the parent/guardian of the problem. If the number of excused days missed reaches 9, the school will require the parents to attend a meeting at the school with the attendance officer, assistant principal, and teacher.

3. If a student has 6 consecutive days of excused absences a letter will be sent out to notify parents/guardians. Any days thereafter will be considered unexcused absences and will then follow those procedures.

Unexcused absences are considered truancy. District #518 policy requires that parents or guardians be notified of the continuing truant law, Minn. Stat. Ch. 260.015, subd. 19.

The notice alerts parents to their child's absences and notifies them of the legal problems that may descend upon them if the child's attendance does not improve. Specifically, parents are advised that they may be charged with a misdemeanor for failing to keep their child in school. Parents are also advised in the notice that their child may become the subject of a juvenile court delinquency petition. Finally, the truancy notice alerts parents or guardians to the fact that the failure to ensure that their child attends school may constitute neglect.

1. When a student has 3 unexcused absences/tardies a letter of notification is sent to the parent/guardian.

2. A second letter will be sent to notify the parent/guardian when a student reaches 5 unexcused absences/tardies and a meeting will be scheduled with the District Attendance Officer, principal, and classroom teacher to develop a plan to improve the attendance situation and sign an attendance contract.

3. If there is not a marked improvement in the student’s attendance, a referral will be made to Nobles County Family Services as a habitual truant as defined in Minn. Stat. Ch. 260.015, subd. 19.