MILFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT Milford, Delaware POLICY STUDENT ATTENDANCE, K SCHOOL ATTENDANCE - STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES

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1 MILFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT Milfd, Delaware POLICY STUDENT ATTENDANCE, K SCHOOL ATTENDANCE - STUDENT ABSENCES AND EXCUSES The Milfd Board of Education requires that all students attend school regularly and in accdance with the laws of the State of Delaware. The Milfd Board of Education expects every person residing in the Milfd School District who has legal custody, guardianship, legal control of students enrolled in Milfd School District Schools to be infmed and responsible f the regular and punctual patterns of attendance of all enrolled students in the District. Therefe, at the beginning of every school year, each school shall notify each student and the parent of each student of the school attendance requirements of 14 Del. Code, Chapter 27, and the Milfd School District. The Superintendent of Schools of the Milfd School District is charged with maintaining a comprehensive system of attendance recds. Classroom teachers and building principals are to maintain accurate recds of student attendance, absences and tardies throughout the entire school day. The Milfd Board of Education classifies absences from school as either excused unexcused. When a student reaches seven (7) days absent in a semester course fifteen (15) days absent in a yearlong course f any reason, the parent and student will be notified by letter (US mail) that the student has been placed on monit status. Phone calls regarding absences will be arranged. This may be done through the automated phone system through personal phone calls to the family. When a student has three days of unexcused absences, the parents will receive a warning letter regarding truancy court. At five days of unexcused absence, the Visiting Teacher will file charges in Truancy Court. After twenty (20) days of absence in a year long course, the student will not be able to make up school wk. Uncompleted wk will result in zeros f the particular assignments missed. After the student reaches twenty (20) days absent f any reason, he she is considered a chronic attendance problem. Students may be excused f documented chronic medical conditions verified by a doct s letter of explanation on the school district fm. This type of medical excuse is not f excusing colds, flu, routine medical conditions such as allergies. These types of illnesses are to be excused by parents within the seven and fifteen day limits of absence. Medical excuses from a physician are intended f maj medical conditions requiring hospitalization, such as automobile accidents, and frequent medical treatments f serious medical conditions such as, but not limited to, severe diabetes, cancer, and emotional psychological disders EXCUSED ABSENCES The following will be considered excused absences with proper documentation: a. absence associated with student illness; b. absence associated with a family emergency with acceptable explanation; c. absence associated with a subpoenaed court appearance; d. absence associated with an appointment f treatment by a doct dentist, providing evidence of such is provided; e. absence associated with a suspension; f. absence associated with other reasons approved by the principal.

2 NOTE: Parent notes are not excusable after the seventh absence in a semester course after the fifteenth absence in a yearlong course UNEXCUSED ABSENCES The following will be considered unexcused absences: a. absence f which no written note was provided by the person in control of the student; b. absence not considered excused by the principal; c. parent notes submitted after the seventh absence in a semester course after the fifteenth absence in a yearlong course. d. parent notes submitted during state testing will be considered unexcused. Students absent from school class f an unexcused reason are subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Students and parents of students are subject to the minimum mandaty attendance requirements and penalties contained in 14 Del. Code, Chapter 27. Following the tenth (10 th ) day of unexcused absence, each parent guardian of a student shall sign a contract with the Milfd School District as required by Del. Code COURSE/SUBJECT CREDIT AND/OR PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS High School Attendance Regulations: When a high school student s absence total reaches seven (7) days in a semester f any reason, the parent and the student will be notified that the student has been placed on attendance review/monit status. A three (3) point deduction from the student s final grade will de taken f each absence in excess of seven (7) days that semester unless the absence is documented with a note from a doct stating the specific dates/times of the student s absence due to his/her illness court documentation stating that the student s appearance in court was mandaty. Parent notes documenting the absences beyond the seventh each semester will result in the point deduction. However, in der f teachers to be required to provide the student with the opptunity to complete missed assignments class wk, the parent note must be received no later than two school days after the absence. Undocumented absences are unexcused and subject to disciplinary actions in accdance with Board Policy # Student Code of Conduct. Students under 16 years old: When a student under the age of sixteen years has absences resulting in a point deduction that makes it impossible f the student to earn a passing grade in a class, the student will be referred to the Discipline Review Committee. The Discipline Review Committee will decide appropriate disciplinary actions f the attendance/truancy violation. When a student under the age of 16 years reaches fifteen (15) absences in a semester f any reason, the student will be referred to the Visiting Teacher and processed through truancy court. Additionally the student will be placed on an attendance contract. When a student under the age of 16 years has eighteen (18) absences in a semester f any reason, the student will be referred to the Central Discipline Review Committee and appropriate disciplinary actions f attendance/truancy violations will be determined. Students over 16 years old: Students sixteen years of age older with absences in excess of seven (7) days in a class during a semester resulting in a point deduction that makes it impossible f the student to earn a passing grade in a class will be administratively withdrawn from school f the remainder of the semester. Students over the age of 16 years who reach fifteen (15) absences f a class in a semester will be referred to the Central Discipline Review Committee and appropriate actions f attendance violations will be determined

3 - 3 - Students who are administratively withdrawn f the first time may return to school the following semester. Students administratively withdrawn f attendance me than once during the student s high school career will be required to attend a student hearing with the Direct of Secondary Education his/her designee to determine if the student will be permitted to return to Milfd High School. Extra-Curricular Attendance Policy Students who are in violation of the High School attendance policy (in excess of 7 absences in excess of 8 tardies in a semester) will not be permitted to participate in school activities attend school functions (this includes clubs, athletics, and school dances). Exceptions may be considered f extended medical illnesses. Middle School Attendance Regulations: When a middle school student s absence total reaches seven (7) days absent in a semester course fifteen (15) days in a yearlong course f any reason, the parent and the student will be notified that the student has been placed on attendance review/monit status. When a student s absence total exceeds fifteen (15) f any reason, an attendance contract shall be required and course credit/promotion alternatives may be expled. Absences covered by doct s notes court documentation are the only accepted excuses f absences f days in excess of the first fifteen (15) days. Parent notes are not excusable after the seventh absence in a quarter/semester course the fifteenth absence in a yearlong course. Homebound instruction may be necessary f extended medical absences and will not be included in the student s school attendance totals. Attendance appeals are not permitted at Milfd Middle School. Compliance with these attendance regulations is required. Extra-Curricular Attendance Policy Students who are in violation of the Middle School attendance policy (in excess of 7 absences in excess of 8 tardies in a semester) will not be permitted to participate in school activities attend school functions. This includes clubs, athletics, and school dances. Exceptions may be considered f extended medical illnesses. Elementary Schools Attendance Regulations (K-5): When an elementary school student s absence total reaches five (5) days absent in a trimester f any reason, the parent and the student will be notified that the student has been placed on attendance review/monit status. When an elementary student s absence total exceeds twelve (12) f any reason, an attendance contract shall be required and course credit/promotion alternatives may be expled. Absences covered by doct s notes court documentation are the only accepted excuses f absences f days in excess of the first fifteen (15) days of absences. Homebound instruction may be necessary f extended medical absences and will not be included in the student s school attendance totals. Attendance appeals are not permitted in any of the Milfd Elementary Schools. Full day absences include dismissal pri to 10:30 a.m. f the remainder of the day arrival after 12 noon. Compliance with these attendance regulations is required SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Absences from class associated with a religious holiday (ARH) caused by participation in a schoolsponsed activity (ACT FT) and approved-college visits (ACV) are not classified as part of the total listed above and teachers should recd such absences differently (ARH, ACT, FT ACV) f a student who is absent from school f either an excused unexcused reason. Documentation to verify these types of special circumstances in advance may be requested. Principals shall establish procedures f infming teachers of students absent from class but not absent from school because the student is engaged in a school activity other special circumstances. Principals and teachers shall establish procedures f such students to follow to make up missed schoolwk. Absences f family vacations and family trips will be included in the student s absence totals. These absences will count in the total f credit promotion and must comply with the school s attendance regulations. An absence note is required.

4 Perfect attendance is celebrated by schools and good attendance is encouraged and recognized TARDINESS The term tardy will be defined as being late to school, class, an activity, with without permission of parents/guardian school personnel. The principal, in consultation with staff, will establish a specific building definition of what constitutes being late to school, class an activity. Consequences f violation of tardiness will be included in the district code of conduct. The teacher will counsel with those students who are developing a pattern of being tardy. The teacher will refer to the principal those students who in the teacher s judgment are not making progress towards crecting the problem. Students who accumulate me than twelve (12) lateness to school shall be referred to the attention of the visiting teacher/home-school liaison just as excessive absence is repted. In the Milfd School District, four tardies to school will be considered the same as one unexcused absence from school TRUANCY A student will be considered truant if the student: a. fails to arrive at school when directed to attend by the person in control of the student; b. leaves school property without permission of the principal designee; c. is present on school property but not present at place class assigned; d. has accumulated me than three (3) unexcused/unverified absences during the school year; e. has accumulated me than twelve (12) tardies to school during the school year. A truant and the parent of a truant are subject to the administrative procedures, Truancy Court referral, and Court proceedings as established in 14 Del. Code, Chapter 27, Subchapter II. A parent who is determined to have violated Section 2702 of this title is guilty of an unclassified misdemean and the penalties are specified in Section 2729 of this title. A student who is truant will be disciplined by the principal as appropriate to the circumstance associated with the truancy. A truancy conference will be held by the school principal as specified in Sections 2725 & 2726 of 14 Del. Code, Chapter 27. A student with me than three days of absence due to truancy in any given school year will be considered a chronic truant and will be referred to the visiting teacher/home school liaison f Truancy Court action(s). Students who leave school property without permission who do not rept to assigned areas class three times in a given school year shall also be considered a chronic truant. A student who is a chronic truant may be referred to the visiting teacher/home-school liaison f possible court action after parent notification and the student s attendance recd have been received by the parent and the student. Students who reach the age of 16 may be recommended f expulsion from school. A student expelled f truancy may re-enter school the following year, but re-entry will be on a probationary basis. If such student again is classified a chronic truant, per the description of the policy, the student shall be dropped from the attendance roll of the school. In combating truancy, school officials shall attempt to involve other state agencies as they wk to eliminate truancy as a cause f a student being absent from school ATTENDANCE OFFICER The Delaware Code identifies the Superintendent of Schools as the attendance officer of the Milfd School District and authizes that person to investigate reasons f student absenteeism and seek ways to return the student to school

5 The Milfd School District is authized to employ a visiting teacher/home-school liaison whose responsibility is to assist the superintendent by serving as a liaison between the school and home in matters of attendance. The visiting teacher/home school liaison can be assigned to act as an enfcement officer if other actions do not crect a school attendance problem SUMMARY OF ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES FOR ABSENCES AND TARDIES Regular VT Referral at 12 days absent (Yearlong) VT Referral at 7 days (Semester) Chronic VT Referral at 5 days Attendance Letter at 10 days absent (Yearlong) Attendance Letter at 7 days absent (Semester) Committee/Team Review at 15 days absent (Yearlong) Committee/Team Review at 7 days absent (Semester) Committee/Team Review at 10 days absent (Yearlong) Committee/Team Review at 5 days (Semester) Each school needs to identify its chronic offenders ADOPTED 5/21/01; 6/24/02; 6/28/04; 6/29/09