GLASSCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

Glasscock Elementary School will require students to attend regularly and punctually. Our school will follow the Marion County Board of Education district attendance policy, which states the following:

The Principal shall determine whether the absence is excused or unexcused immediately upon the pupil’s return to school. The Principal shall accept written certification by a parent or guardian of a student’s illness or severe illness in the family for as many as three (3) absences per year. All absences beyond three (3) shall be documented, in writing, by a statement from a doctor, dentist, or the Health Department in order for the absence to be excused. Documented statements must specify the time period if more than the interval of the office visit is to be considered.

Reasons for excused absences or tardiness include:

1. Illness of the pupil,

2. Death or severe illness in the pupil’s immediate family,

3. Orders of the court,

4. Religious holidays and practices,

5. One (1) day for attendance a the Kentucky State Fair (if participating), or

6. Other valid reasons as determined by the Principal.

All other absences shall be considered unexcused.

Three unexcused tardies to any class shall count as one (1) unexcused absence.

Any pupil who has been absent from school without valid excuse for three (3) days or more, or tardy without valid excuse on three (3) days or more, is a truant. A pupil who has been reported as a truant two (2) or more times is an habitual truant.

Glasscock Elementary School will also follow the district attendance policy with regard to notification to parents.

After two (2) unexcused absences in any one (1) year a letter shall be mailed to the pupil’s parents/ guardian informing them of the consequence of further absences.

After four (4) unexcused absences in any one (1) year, a letter shall be mailed to the pupil’s parents/ guardian requesting that the parent(s) attend an Attendance Committee hearing to discuss their child’s poor attendance record and the consequences of further absences. The Attendance Committee shall be composed of the Principal, Counselor and teacher or teachers in question.

The Attendance Committee in an effort to formulate a plan to improve the student’s attendance, may recommend one or more of the following options to be administered by the Principal:

1. Imposing restrictions on future absences and tardiness;

2. Referring the student to the Director of Pupil Personnel/ Social Worker for home

visit;

3. Referring the student to the Director of Pupil Personnel for Juvenile Court

action;

and/or

4. Other appropriate disciplinary response options according to the Student

Discipline Code.

When an Extended Absence is anticipated, parents or guardians are asked to notify the Principal or Counselor immediately.

Pupils shall be permitted to make up work missed during an excused absence. All work missed during an excused absence shall be made up as follows: for every day the student misses, s/he shall receive the same amount of days to complete make-up work. Parents are encouraged to pick up missed work at school when students are out more than one day. Teachers are not required to count the make up work of students with an unexcused absence.

Students attending Glasscock Elementary School on an out-of-district contract are expected to attend school regularly as part of the contract agreement. These contracts are renewed annually and poor attendance could result in the non-renewal of such a contract.

LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY

If a student must leave school early they must be checked out through the office. This should be done by a parent or guardian or another person identified on the student’s Permission to Check Out form turned in at the beginning of the school year. School personnel have the right to request to see identification of any person checking out a student. This is for the benefit and protection of the student.

Depending on the time of the check out, students may receive a partial-day absence or a tardy. Such absences and tardies will be excused or unexcused based on the same criteria listed earlier in this policy.

When students leave school early, they often miss important classroom activities and daily announcements. Students should only be checked out early when absolutely necessary to avoid disrupting the learning process.

Note: All parts of the Board of Education policy applicable only to middle and high school have been omitted.

Adopted 11/2001

Revised 8/2005, 12/2008