JE

STUDENTATTENDANCE

INTRODUCTION

ItisthephilosophyoftheIndianRiverSchoolDistrictthatstudents needtoattendschooliftheyaretolearn.Itisourbeliefthatbypromotingregularschoolattendanceduringtheearlychildhoodandadolescentyearswewillinstillaresponsibilityintheindividualtoattendworkregularly oncehe/she reaches adulthood andenterstheworkplaceinoursociety.

OnorbeforeSeptember15eachyear,eachprincipalwillberesponsibleforconductinganassemblyduringwhichstudentsaregiveninformationaboutthepolicyandconsequencesofitsviolation.

School-sponsoredactivitiesareexemptandwillnotcounttowardthestudent’sabsenteerecord.However, students who approachthemaximum numberof allowableabsencesmaybeprohibitedfromparticipatinginschool-sponsoredactivities.Thefinaldecisionwillbemade bythebuilding principal.

Itisourbeliefthattheschool,theparent/guardian,andthestudentsharetheresponsibilityofdevelopingthebestpossibleattendancepattern.Parents/guardianscanassistinthisbydoingthefollowing to minimize absences from school:

1.Schedule medical and dental appointments after regular school hours.

2.Schedule family vacations at times that do not interfere with school.

3.Makearrangementsforhomeboundinstructionifyourchildismedicallycertifiedasunabletoattendschool.

Letterstotheparent/guardian(addressonfile)andphonecallswillbeutilizedthroughouttheschoolyeartoinformparentsandstudentsofaccumulationofabsences.

TheSpecialEducationCoordinatorwillbenotifiedwhenastudentwithanI.E.P.isreferredforVisitingTeacheractionasaresultofaccumulatedunexcusedabsencesasaddressedinthispolicy.

SECTIONI: DEFINITIONOF UNEXCUSEDANDEXCUSEDABSENCES

  1. AbsencesfromschoolnotsupportedbytherequireddocumentationaredefinedasUNEXCUSEDABSENCES.Absencesfromschoolsupportedbya documented note (seeSectionIV)aredefinedasEXCUSEDABSENCES.StudentsintheIndianRiverSchoolDistrictmaybeDENIEDCREDIT(S)intheircoursesasaconsequenceofbeingabsentfromschool without documentednotes.
  1. ParentNotes(Mustbesubmittedwithintwo(2)schooldaysuponthestudent’sreturntoschool.)
  2. Parent/guardiannotesindicatingstudent’sillnessorotherparentalreasonwillbeaccepted with the following LIMITATIONS:
  1. Parents/guardianswillbepermittedtoexcuseuptosixteen (16) daysofabsenceperschoolyearbywrittenparentnote.
  1. After sixteen (16)absenceshavebeenexcused,a documented note must beprovidedinordertoexcuseastudent’sabsence.
  1. Ifaperiodofabsenceextendsbeyondthree(3)consecutivedays,theparent/guardianshouldcontacttheschoolandprovidedocumentationuponthestudent’sreturntoschool.
  1. Ingrades9–12,parentnotescanbeusedtoexcusetardinessand early dismissals.Anynoteusedtoexcuseatardyor early dismissal willbelimited to ten (10) per school year.

SECTION II:LOSSOFCREDITSFORDAYSABSENT

Subjecttodueprocessprocedures,studentsingrades9–12,whoaccumulate in excess of(16)days of absences not accompanied by a documented note (see section IV)duringatraditionalfullschoolyearprogram,maybedeniedcreditintheircoursesforthatschoolyear. StudentsingradesK–8whoaccumulate in excess of sixteen (16)days ofabsencesduringatraditionalfullschoolyearprogrammayberetainedin theirgradelevelfor the next school year.

SECTIONIII:UNEXCUSEDTARDIESANDEARLY DISMISSALS

Eachbuildingwillmonitorstudentswhoarrivelatetoschoolorleaveschoolearlywithoutproperdocumentation. Students with excessive tardies and/or early dismissals will be subject to disciplinary consequences according to their school’s discipline matrix.

SECTION IV:DOCUMENTED NOTES

Documentednotesaredefinedasnotespresentedtotheschoolfromprofessionaltypeservices,

i.e.Doctor,Dentist,MentalHealthAgencies,Courts,Lawyers,etc.TheBuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteehasfinalapprovalofanynotesandmayrequireamedicalnoteforextendedabsences.

For the purpose ofthis policy the followingmay be classifiedas excused absences due to documented notes:

DocumentedNotes(Mustbesubmittedwithintwo(2)schooldaysuponthestudent’sreturnto school.) The Building Attendance Review Committee may accept documented notes at a later date (See Section VII).

1.Hospitalization,asnotedbythehospital or medical professional.

2.Knownchronicillnessesorcontagiousdiseases,asnotedbyamedicalprofessional.

3.Inthecareofanyapprovedsocialagency,whetherpublicorprivate,asnotedbythat agency.

4.Deathinthechild’sownhomeorinthehomeofthegrandparents,timenottoexceedone(1)week.Funeralsofotherrelativesorclosefriends,nottoexceed one(1)dayifinthelocality;orthree(3)days,ifatsomedistanceoroutsideofthestate,asnotedbya Funeral Home or other official means.

5.Legal business, as noted by alegalprofessionalorcourt.

6.Studentswhobecomeillduringtheschooldayandaresenthomebytheschool’snurse, as noted by the school nurse.

7.Writtenphysician’sexcuse.(Medicalanddentalappointmentsshouldbescheduledafterregularschool hours whenever possible.)

8.Religious holiday, approved bythe building administrator.

9.Suspensionfromschool.

10.Priorapprovalgrantedbythebuildingadministratorforfamilytrips/events.Parentsandguardiansshouldmakeeveryefforttoschedulefamilytrips/eventsduringperiodsofschoolvacation.Ifthisisnotpossible,aspecificformmustbefilledoutbythestudentandparent/guardianandsubmittedtothebuildingprincipalatleastfive(5)schooldaysbeforethetriporevent.Informationandtheproperformcanbeobtainedattheschooloffice.Approvalwillbegrantedordeniedonacase-by-casebasiswithconsiderationgiventothestudent’sprior attendancerecord,thenumberofrequesteddaysabsent,andthejustifiablecauseorpurposeofthefamilytrip/event.Iftherequestexceedsten(10)schooldaysinaregularschool-yearprogram,specialpermissionfromthesuperintendentisrequired.

11.Students, who are also parents, may provide any of the documentation stated above in items 1-10 when caring for their own children.

SECTIONV: SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS DURING ABSENCES

Itistheresponsibilityofthestudentandtheparents/guardiantorequestclasswork,homework,assignments,andtestsmissedwhen not in attendance.Studentsand/ortheparents/guardianmustrequesttomakeuptheschoolworkwithintwo(2)daysafterreturningtoschool.

SECTIONVII:ATTENDANCEREVIEWCOMMITTEES

Building Attendance Review Committee

1.EachschoolbuildingintheIndianRiverSchoolDistrictshallestablishabuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteewhichmaybecomprisedofthefollowingpersonnel:

Principaland/orAssistantPrincipalGuidanceCounselor

ClassroomTeacher Nurse

Visiting Teacher

Special Education Co-coordinatorSchool Climate Personnel

Other staff members as may be needed.

2.TheresponsibilityofthebuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteeistoreviewtherecordofanystudentwhohasexceededtheprovisionsoftheattendancepolicy.Anystudentwithahistoryofpoorattendanceassubstantiatedbyeithera“NoticeofProsecution”foraviolationofDelawareschoolattendancelaworaparentmeetingwiththeBuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteemaybesubjecttomorerestrictiveattendancecriteriaasestablishedbytheBuildingAttendanceReviewCommittee perIRSDregulation.The committee may request/accept documented notes during this review from prior absences.

3.If theReviewCommitteedetermines thatthestudenthasviolatedtheIndianRiverSchoolDistrictpolicy,thentheCommitteeshallfollowthedueprocessprocedureas outlined in this policy.

District Attendance Review Committee

1.TheIndianRiverSchoolDistrictshallestablishadistrictAttendanceReview Committee which may be comprised of the following personnel:

District-leveladministratordesignated by the superintendentHigh School Administrator

Middle School AdministratorElementary School AdministratorElementary Counselor

SecondaryCounselorNurse

Other staff members as may be needed.

2.TheresponsibilityofthedistrictAttendanceReviewCommitteeistoreviewthedecisionsofeachschool’sbuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteetodeterminethat decisions arein accordance with thedistrict’s Student Attendance policy.

3.ThedistrictReviewCommitteeshall hear student appeals.

4.Inthosecaseswhereappealsareupheld,theCommitteeshallfollowthedueprocess procedures as outlined in this policy.

SECTIONVIII: DUEPROCESS:

1.ThebuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteeshallmeetonceastudenthasexceeded the provisions ofthe attendance policy.

2.IfthebuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteedeterminesthatagrade9-12studenthasviolatedtheIndianRiverSchoolDistrictStudentAttendancepolicy, anddeterminesthestudentisbeingdeniedcredit,thecommitteeshallnotifytheparent/guardianbycertificateofmailingletterthathis/herchildmaybedeniedcreditfor the current school year.

IfthebuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteedeterminesthatagradeK-8studenthasviolatedtheIndianRiverSchoolDistrictStudentAttendancepolicy, thecommitteeshallnotifytheparent/guardianbycertificateofmailingletterthathis/her child may be retainedattheir currentgrade level for the next school year.

3.Thestudentorparent/guardianmustnotifythebuildingprincipal,inwriting,withinfive(5)schooldaysfromthedeliveryofthecertificateofmailingletter,referencedin#2above,iftheywishtoappealthedecisionofthebuildingAttendanceReviewCommittee;oriftheywouldliketobegrantedaccesstoan alternative route to graduation (seePolicy IKEA).

4.Ifanappealisrequested,thedistrictAttendanceReviewCommitteeshallmeetwithinfive(5)schooldaysofthehearingrequestforthepurposeofhearingthestudent’sappeal.ThedistrictAttendanceReviewCommitteeshallhavetherighttoaffirm,reverse,ormodifythedecisionofthebuildingAttendanceReviewCommittee.

5.ThedistrictAttendanceReviewCommitteeshallinformtheparent/guardianofitsdecisionbyacertificateof mailing withinthree(3)schooldays of the hearing.

6.IfthedistrictAttendanceReviewCommitteeaffirmsthedecisionofthebuildingAttendanceReviewCommitteesothatthestudentisnoteligibleforpromotiontothenextgradeornoteligibletoearncreditfortheschoolyear,thestudentmayappealtothesuperintendent.Thesuperintendentshallhavetherighttoaffirm,reverse,ormodifythedecisionofthe district Attendance Review Committee.

7.Ifallappealsaredenied,thestudentmayappealtotheBoardofEducation.TheBoardofEducationshallhavetherighttoaffirm,reverse,ormodifythedecisionof the superintendent.

School Attendance During Due Process

StudentswhofollowthedueprocessproceduresofthispolicyasaresultofreceivingnotificationthattheyareinviolationoftheIndianRiverSchoolDistrictStudentAttendancepolicyshallcontinuetoattendschoolundertheguidelinesofthispolicy.

Present Policy Exists

Adopted 7/26/88

Revised9/23/92,3/22/94(effective 7/1/94, 10/25/94, 7/25/95, 9/24/96, 7/1/97, 11/26/02, 6/17/03, 7/27/04, 6/20/06, 6/17/08, 6/23/09, 6/29/10, 7/24/12, 5/23/16

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