Excused absence means a student is absent from school for a reason identified by the school district as legitimate, valid and reasonable such as:

Transcription

1 WASATCH SCHOOL DISTRICT Plicy Orig. Date: 2002 Statement f Effective Date: 07/01/2002 Plicy and Respnsibility Revisin Date: Nne Apprval Date: 03/07/2001 POLICY: It is the plicy f the Wasatch Schl District t prmte regular attendance. All students are expected t be in class n time every schl day, in every class. Absences will cause students t lse significant instructin and learning. Secndary students (6-12) may lse credit and shuld be expected t experience grade reductin if their attendance is less than 90% (apprximately five days per nine-week perid.) Elementary students (K-5) may risk the denial f grade prmtin if their attendance is less than 90% (apprximately five days per nine-week perid.) If a student is absent fr any reasn, including schl activities, he r she is expected t cmplete make-up wrk assigned by the teacher. Tardies may result in a lss f credit, reduced grades, r denial f grade prmtin. PURPOSE: Utah Cmpulsry Attendance laws require a parent r guardian t insure the n-time attendance f their children n a regular, uninterrupted basis. The Wasatch Cunty Bard f Educatin supprts this attendance plicy in rder t: Increase daily student attendance Encurage students t be academically current in classes Develp student respnsibility Increase parental invlvement in student attendance Increase likelihd f student academic success Maintain a safe arid rderly learning envirnment Prepare students fr attendance expectatins in their future careers DEFINITIONS: Absence means a student's nn-attendance fr ne schl day r part f ne schl day Excused absence means a student is absent frm schl fr a reasn identified by the schl district as legitimate, valid and reasnable such as: Illness Medical appintments Family emergencies as interpreted by administratr r designee Death f family member r clse friend Other circumstances, such as family activities r travel, that in the judgment f the principal cnstitutes a justifiable absence frm schl and fr which arrangements have been made with the principal in 1 f 5

2 WASATCH SCHOOL DISTRICT Plicy Orig. Date: 2002 Statement f Effective Date: 07/01/2002 Plicy and Respnsibility Revisin Date: Nne Apprval Date: 03/07/2001 writing in advance f the activity Unexcused absence means a student is absent frm schl fr reasns ther than thse authrized under this r an individual schl's plicy Extenuating circumstances regarding attendance will be cnsidered n a case by case basis by prir apprval with a schl administratr r designee Truant is any schl-aged minr wh is absent frm schl withut a legitimate r valid excuse (i.e. excused absence) Habitual truant means a schl-aged minr wh has received mre than tw truancy citatins within ne schl year frm the schl in which the minr is r shuld be enrlled and/r eight absences withut a legitimate r valid excuse r wh, in defiance f the effrts n part f the schl authrities t reslve a student's attendance prblem as required under Sectin 54A , refuses t regularly attend schl r any scheduled perid f the day. Truancy citatin is a ticket issued in the truant's name under Sectin 53A (1). A truancy citatin is issued by the schl designated individual and prvides fr the authrity t administer penalties, require strict attendance by the student and mnitring by the schl, r levy a fine that may be payable t the schl r schl district. PRINCIPLES and GUIDELINES: Administrative/Schl Respnsibilities Schl administratrs shuld encurage parents r guardian t cmply with Utah attendance laws t ensure regular student attendance and punctuality Make reasnable attempts t ntify a parent r guardian f student absences Make reasnable accmmdatins fr individuals as per Sectin 504 f the American with Disability Act (ADA) r the Individuals with Disabilities Educatin Act (IDEA) Establish clear prcedures t implement this plicy Infrm parents, teachers, and students f the attendance plicy. Annual ntificatin f the District and schl attendance plicies shall be prvided t the parent/guardian(s) f all students at the time f registratin Fllwing six excused absences in a twelve week perid, the administratr r the individual designated by the schl shall cntact the parent(s) and arrange fr a meeting t discuss the student's attendance. In the event f truancy, the schl will prceed frm parent ntificatin t a parent cnference, t explre alternatives based n the truancy plicy Teacher Respnsibilities 2 f 5

3 WASATCH SCHOOL DISTRICT Plicy Orig. Date: 2002 Statement f Effective Date: 07/01/2002 Plicy and Respnsibility Revisin Date: Nne Apprval Date: 03/07/2001 Set a prper example f prmptness and regular attendance Encurage student attendance thrugh teaching methds which mtivate student invlvement and participatin in the learning prcess Supprt and administer the district and schl attendance plicy, including infrming students f that plicy Expect students t attend schl every day and arrive prmptly and will initiate measures t crrect attendance prblems Teachers will be required t give students wh are absent with a valid excuse an pprtunity t make up class wrk missed. Teachers must take care t be precise in assigning the wrk t be made up, as well as setting any time deadlines. (Make up wrk fr an unexcused absent is at the teacher's discretin.) Individual teachers will develp grading and credit guidelines that reward class participatin and academic achievement. Parent Respnsibilities Utah law requires parents t ensure the attendance f their children in schl; parents have the respnsibility t ensure the student attends schl regularly and is n time Ntify the schl prir t r within 24 hurs f the absence, with the understanding that ntificatin des nt necessarily mean the absence will be excused Respect the classrm and the teacher by requesting make-up wrk in a timely manner, giving teachers adequate ntice and time t prvide that wrk If the student receives a truancy citatin, the parents are respnsible fr making fine payments Student Respnsibilities Students have the respnsibility t attend schl regularly and be n time Students wh have an excused absence will be respnsible t make up class wrk that can be made up within the specified time limits When a student is tardy fr class, it is his r her respnsibility t immediately cntact the teacher s that the absence will nt be assessed. When a student must leave schl during the day fr any reasn, he r she must cntact the ffice befre ding s. TRUANCY Prcedures tward the designatin f Habitual Truant Status Prir t r n later than schl registratin, the parent(s) f all students in grades K -12 shall be prvided written ntice frm the schl r district infrming parents f Cmpulsry Educatin attendance laws and encuraging parental cperatin. Fllwing tw (2) unexcused absences in a six week perid, the schl designee shall cunsel the parent(s)/student as t the imprtance f schl attendance and the legal 3 f 5

4 WASATCH SCHOOL DISTRICT Plicy Orig. Date: 2002 Statement f Effective Date: 07/01/2002 Plicy and Respnsibility Revisin Date: Nne Apprval Date: 03/07/2001 implicatins f truancy. Dcumentatin f the date, time, and methd f cmmunicatin shall be kept. It is expected that at least ne (1) truancy citatin shall be issued t the student during this perid f time. The schl shall cntinue t mnitr schl attendance fllwing the first truancy citatin. If apprpriate, the student's curriculum r schedule may be adjusted. Fllwing fur (4) additinal unexcused absences in a subsequent six week perid, the schl designee shall cntact the parent(s) and arrange fr a meeting at the schl r elsewhere t discuss the student's attendance prblem. Dcumentatin f the date, time, and lcatin f the meeting shall be kept. A secnd truancy citatin may be issued during this perid f time. Fllwing the seventh (7) unexcused absence within a ttal twelve (12) week perid, a certified letter shall be sent requesting again the supprt f the parent/guardian(s) in reslving the attendance prblems and utlining Utah State Law 53A A cpy f the letter and mailing certificate must be kept by the schl. Anther truancy citatin may be issued during this time. If there is an eighth unexcused absence within a ttal 14 week perid, and a secnd truancy citatin has nt been issued, ne shall be issued at that time. Fllwing the secnd truancy citatin, prir t the referral t curt, in a final attempt t prevent habitual truancy, the schl r district shall schedule a pre-curt hearing meeting. At that meeting, schl persnnel shall present final alternatives t curt referral. Fllwing the ninth (9) unexcused absence, anther truancy citatin shall be issued and the parent/student shall be ntified that the student is a habitual truant. Referral t the apprpriate Cunty r District Attrney r Juvenile Curt cnsistent with Sectin 53A (6) shall be made by the individual designated by the schl/district. A curt referral shall include a recmmended dispsitin cntaining the fllwing: Dcumentatin f attendance and academic achievement Dcumentatin f schl effrts t imprve attendance Cpies f truancy citatins, including all mailing certificates; and Student backgrund as requested by the prsecuting agency. TRUANCY CITATION Earnest and persistent effrts t reslve student attendance prblems may include the issuance f a truancy citatin which requires: Cnsultatin with a parent/guardian t determine if mitigating circumstances such as medical r psychlgical prblems indicate the use f interventin methds ther than assessing fines fr reslving the attendance prblems. Ntificatin f the student and a parent/guardian f the truancy fine schedule and actin by the schl shuld the student be truant in the future. Cpies f truancy citatins shall be retained in the student's permanent recrd. If a student enters r leaves the district, truancy citatins issued may fllw the student at the discretin f the receiving district. Truancy citatin fines are nt subject t fee waiver prvisins. The schl shall 4 f 5

5 WASATCH SCHOOL DISTRICT Plicy Orig. Date: 2002 Statement f Effective Date: 07/01/2002 Plicy and Respnsibility Revisin Date: Nne Apprval Date: 03/07/2001 prvide reasnable and specific ptins in lieu f payment fr truancy citatins. The schl administratin will be respnsible fr determining plicy fr fine cllectin and cnsequences fr failure t respnd. The parent shall have the ri g ht t appeal a truancy citatin in writing t the building level administratr within ten (10) days f being issued. Truancy Citatin Fine Schedule Level Citatin Maximum assessment permitted 1 First $ Secnd $ Third $ Furth $ Fifth r mre $25.00 This plicy sets attendance standards fr all students in Wasatch Cunty Schl District and all staff members are expected t adhere t this plicy. A schl shuld develp specific prcedures t enact this plicy, but may nt exceed, nr alter the requirements herein. The appeals prcedure fr this plicy is the same as the appeals prcedure fr matters invlving the Safe Schls Plicy f the District. 5 f 5