PROCEDURES FOR NON-ATTENDANCE
Our goal is to work together with families to help improve attendance. Please help your child have the opportunity to become academically successful by having them at school on time each and every day. It’s one of the most important things you can do for your child!

1. Any time a student has an exempt absence, the documentation must be turned in to the school office to be filed upon return to school. For a medical excuse, Indiana law states that, a student must have a note regarding illness signed by an Indiana physician, chiropractor, osteopath, or Christian Science practitioner who resides in Indiana and is listed in the Christian Science Journal. The note must be turned into the school office within six days of the student returning to school. (Indiana Code 20-33-2-18)

2. After a student has reached 6 absences, the parents will receive an attendance letter from the principal notifying the parent of attendance concerns. “Exempt” absences identified in 1-13 above in this section do not count toward this total of 6 absences.

3. After the student has reached 6 absences, the principal will send notification to the Office of Elementary Education. Parents will receive an invitation to attend Attendance Education Class to give them strategies to improve attendance. Parents will be notified of the state attendance law and further actions that may be taken if attendance problems continue. Parents are expected to contact the school principal to set up a conference regarding their student’s attendance. The principal may report the student’s absences the the Department of Child Services (DCS) for further action if the parent does not contact the principal. “Exempt” Absences identified in 1-13 above in this section do not count toward this total of 6 absences.

4. After 9 days of absences during the school year, a letter will be sent to the parent/guardian notifying them of their child’s ninth absence. “Exempt” absences identified in 1-13 above in this section do not count toward this total of 9 absences.

5. Habitual absences, 12 or greater, shall be reported to the Department of Child Services (DCS) as possible educational neglect.

REPORTING ABSENCES, SPECIAL ABSENCES AND REQUESTING HOMEWORK

1. To report absences, the parent or legal guardian must call the school on the day of the absence after 7:30 a.m. and before 9:00 a.m. giving the reason for the absence. Parents may be asked what symptoms their child is having if reported as being sick. If a phone is not available, please send an explanatory note when your child returns to school. A student returning to school during the day should report to the office.

2. Appointments: Because your child will miss valuable learning opportunities, please schedule all medical or dental appointments outside the school day, if possible. Should your child be late or absent for medical or dental reasons, please send a note prior to the appointment or call the school office. Appointments must be made before/after school during state assessments, as students will NOT be released during testing.

3. Students do not need to have completed and submitted assignments or tests the day they return following an exempt absence. Parents of students are responsible for contacting the teacher to schedule make-up work.

4. When homework is requested from the school and not picked up as scheduled, or if assignments are not completed and returned to the teacher, this service will not be available to the student during future absences.

5. If a student is suspended out-of-school, his/her parents may pick-up assignments in the office per directions of the school administrator. The student must complete the assignments by the time he/she returns to school. If work is not completed, further disciplinary action may result.


TARDY AND TARDY-TRUANCY PROCEDURES

1. A student is tardy to school if he/she is not in the classroom by 8:25 a.m. (The recommended time to be at school is 8:15 a.m.) If the student arrives after 8:25 a.m., students will be considered tardy (overslept, missed bus, etc.). All tardies (T) are unexcused unless the parent provides approved documentation, i.e. doctor note, dental note, etc.

2. If the student arrives after between 8:40 – 11:35 without an exemption, he/she is considered to be half day absent (A-A) will be subject to the attendance procedures above and the accompanying truancy mediation procedures.

3. Any student leaving school after 11:36 and before the end of the school day without an exemption will be considered absent for a half day (A-P) and will be subject to the attendance procedures above and the accompanying truancy mediation procedures.

4. If a student is excessively tardy (accumulates 10 tardies during an academic year), a letter may be sent home notifying parents of the number of tardies along with an invitation to an Attendance Education Class meeting. A consequence may be assigned for continued tardies.