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HS Attendance Policy

HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS

The District is committed to providing the best possible educational program for all students and is committed to working constructively with parents toward this goal. School officials are charged under Missouri Revised Statute Sections 167.031, 167.081, and 167.111 with overseeing that each child is in compliance with state school attendance laws. Each school district in Missouri is expected to meet and/or exceed the goal that 90% of all students attend school at a rate greater than 90%.

REPORTING AND CLASSIFYING ABSENCES

Parents/guardians are encouraged to notify the attendance office via phone or email on the day of the absence. Documentation (parent or doctor note) must be submitted within five days of the absence. After five days, the absence is permanently recorded as unexcused.

 

EXCUSED ABSENCES
These are granted for illness, injury, doctor appointments, or a death in the family provided that a parent calls the office on the day of the absence or a student brings a note from a parent or Doctor within five days of the absence. After 5 days, the absence is recorded as unexcused and will make the student NOT final exempt.  If you know that you are going to be gone for a week or more, please plan to discuss with a principal. Absences for school-sponsored activities are the only type that do not count toward a student's total days absent.

Students who are absent are responsible for contacting their teachers regarding makeup work.  Students are allowed one day for each day missed to complete makeup assignments.  Any missed work not turned in by the date required by the teacher is recorded as a ZERO and averaged as part of the semester grade.  

INTERVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT

The attendance office and administrators track attendance daily to identify specific interventions based on the number of absences:

  • When a student accumulates his or her 4th, 7th, and 10th absences, the parent or guardian is notified in writing as to the student’s absentee standing.
  • Once a student reaches 7 unexcused absences, a formal meeting will be scheduled with a building principal to agree on an attendance contract. If unexcused absences continue following the principal meeting, the student will be referred to the district Attendance Enforcement Office.The Attendance Enforcement Officer may conduct home visits, place the student on an attendance contract, file a hotline for educational neglect, or refer the case to the Juvenile Office for truancy.

SEAT TIME AND CREDIT RECOVERY

The physical time spent in the classroom is a requirement for earning academic credit. Students have the opportunity to make up absences by completing additional seat time in detention and/or through sessions scheduled with administrators. If a student reaches 10 or more total unexcused absences, it is determined that cumulative seat time requirements have not been met, and the student will not receive credit for that course.

 

LEAVING CAMPUS AND TRUANCY

Once a student arrives at school, he or she may not leave without following established procedures.  A student who leaves for an appointment must bring a note from a parent and/or guardian, get a Permit to Leave from the office, and then sign out at the office.  If an emergency arises, a student must talk to office personnel who will then contact a parent/guardian to get permission.  The student must then get a Permit to Leave and also sign out in the main office.  A student who fails to follow these procedures will be considered truant.  

 

RIGHT TO APPEAL

Any administrative decision or recommendation regarding attendance can be appealed to the Superintendent’s office.