Attendance
The Anderson School District Five Board of Trustees believes that attendance is a key factor in student achievement. Any absence from school represents an educational loss to the student. However, the board recognizes that some absences are unavoidable.
In order to receive one Carnegie unit of credit, a student must attend at least 85 days (for a 90-day semester course) or 170 days (for a 180-day year course). The board may grant approval of excessive absences, whether lawful or unlawful, on an individualized basis in accordance with board policy and state law.
The district will utilize a written intervention plan for improving student attendance. The purpose of the plan will be to link students with attendance problems and their families to all appropriate school and community resources.
The board recognizes that truancy is primarily an educational issue and will take all reasonable, educationally sound, and corrective actions prior to resorting to the juvenile justice system.
Any student who misses school must present a written excuse, signed by his/her parent/legal guardian. A valid excuse should include the student’s name, the date(s) of the absence(s), the reason(s) for the absence(s), a parent/legal guardian signature, and a telephone number where the parent/legal guardian can be reached. The excuse will contain such other information as directed by the administration. The school administration will keep all excuses confidential.
If a student fails to bring a valid excuse to school, he/she will automatically receive an unexcused absence. If a student brings a false (or forged) excuse, the teacher will refer the student to the school administration for appropriate action.
The district will consider students lawfully absent under the following circumstances:
- He/She is ill and their attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others.
- There is a death or serious illness in their immediate family.
- There is a recognized religious holiday of their faith.
- There is a doctor or dentist appointment and a statement of doctor’s care verified in writing by the doctor or dentist upon the student’s return to school.
- Prearranged absences for other reasons and/or extreme hardships at the discretion of the principal.
- A child in foster care who must be absent due to a certified court appearance or related court ordered activity including, but not limited to, court ordered treatment services.
The district will consider students unlawfully absent under the following circumstances:
- He/She is willfully absent from school without the knowledge of their parent/legal guardian.
- He/She is absent without acceptable cause with the knowledge of their parent/legal guardian.
Suspension is not to be counted as an unlawful absence for truancy purposes.
Excuses
Any student who misses school must be present a written excuse, signed by his/her parent/legal guardian. A valid excuse should include the student’s name, the date(s) of the absence(s), the reason(s) for the absence(s), a parent/legal guardian signature, and a telephone number where the parent/legal guardian can be reached. The excuse will contain such other information as directed by the administration. The school administration will keep all excuses confidential.
Any student who misses school must be present a written excuse, signed by his/her parent/legal guardian. A valid excuse should include the student’s name, the date(s) of the absence(s), the reason(s) for the absence(s), a parent/legal guardian signature, and a telephone number where the parent/legal guardian can be reached. The excuse will contain such other information as directed by the administration. The school administration will keep all excuses confidential.
If a student fails to bring a valid excuse to school, he/she will automatically receive an unexcused absence. If a student brings a false (or forged) excuse, the teacher will refer the student to the school administration for appropriate action.
Tardiness
The district expects students to arrive at school on time and to report to each class on time. Students who enter the classrooms late are disruptive to the instructional program and may be subject to disciplinary actions. Habitually tardy students may be referred to the district’s attendance office after school-based intervention with the parent/legal guardian and student is unsuccessful.
Minimum Day in Grades One through Eight
A student who misses a portion of a school day for a lawful reason will be counted present if he/she is at school for a minimum of two hours in grades one through eight.
The principal will be responsible for implementing and expediting medical homebound instruction for students experiencing a prolonged illness or injury requiring them to be absent from school.