Student Absences
Policy 4400
Late Arrivals and Early Departures
Students are expected to be at school on time and to remain at school until dismissed. During the school day, students are expected to be present at the scheduled starting time for each class and to remain until the class ends.
When a student must be late to school or leave school early, a written excuse signed by a parent or guardian should be presented upon the student’s arrival at school. Tardies or early departures may be excused for any of the reasons listed below in Section C.
Attendance in school for all classes is essential for student success. As with absences, school staff will work with the family to develop a plan to address unexcused tardies and early sign-outs. 4 or more unexcused tardies/early sign-outs in a nine weeks should be addressed to the parent by the principal or designee. Students with driving privileges may have those privileges revoked after 4 unexcused tardies for up to nine weeks.
Excused Absences
When a student must miss school, a written excuse signed by a parent or guardian must be presented to the student’s teacher on the day the student returns after an absence. Absences due to extended illnesses may also require a statement from a health care practitioner. Excused absences cannot reduce a student’s grade. An absence may be excused for any of the following reasons:
personal illness or injury that makes the student physically unable to attend school;
isolation ordered by the local health officer or the State Board of Health or isolation or quarantine that is a required state or local control measure;
death in the immediate family;
medical or dental appointment of the student;
attendance at the proceedings of a court or administrative tribunal if the student is party to the action or, or under subpoena as a witness;
two or more days each academic year for observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parent or legal guardian;
participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel or service as a legislative or Governor’s page, with prior approval from the principal;
pregnancy and related conditions or parenting, when medically necessary;
two or more days each academic year for visitation with the student’s parent or legal guardian if the student is not identified as at risk of academic failure because of unexcused absences and the student’s parent or legal guardian (a) is an active duty or inactive member of the uniformed services as defined by policy 4050, Children of Military Families, and (b) has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting; or
any other reason as approved by the Board in a board resolution.