ATTENDANCE

ATTENDANCE

po5200Adopted February 20, 2013Revised August 18, 2025

5200 - ATTENDANCE

The School Board, as an agency of the State, is required to enforce regular attendance of students. The Board recognizes that being present in the classroom enables students to participate in instruction, class discussions, and other related activities. As such, regular attendance and classroom participation are integral to instilling incentives for students to excel.

Attendance shall mean being physically present in a school or at another location where the school’s educational program is being conducted during regular school hours on a day on which the educational program in which the student is enrolled is being offered.

Attendance shall be required of all School Corporation students, except those exempted under other provisions of Federal or State law, during the days and hours that school is in session or during the sessions to which the student has been assigned.

Attendance need not always be within Corporation facilities, and a student will be considered to be in attendance if present at any place where school is in session by authority of the Board.

Exceptions to Compulsory Attendance/Excused Absences

Exceptions to compulsory attendance that shall be recognized by the Corporation as provided by State statute are:

  1. service as a page or honoree of the general assembly (I.C. 20-33-2-14);

  2. service on a precinct election board or helper to a political candidate or a political party on the date of an election (I.C. 20-33-2-15);

  3. subpoena to appear in court as a witness in a judicial proceeding (I.C. 20-33-2-16);

  4. service in active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, including their reserve components, or the Indiana National Guard for not more than ten (10) days (I.C. 20-33-2-16);

  5. participating as a member of the Indiana wing of the Civil Air Patrol for not more than five (5) days (I.C. 20-33-2-17.2);

  6. exhibiting or participating in the Indiana State Fair for educational purposes by a student or member of the student’s household for not more than five (5) school days provided that the student is in good academic standing as determined by the Corporation, the student's parent has requested the absence in writing, and the school principal has provided written approval for the absence (I.C. 20-33-2-17.7);

  7. participating in an educationally related non-classroom activity that is consistent with and promotes the educational philosophy and goals of the Corporation and the State Board of Education, facilitates the attainment of specific educational objectives, is part of the goals and objectives of an approved course or curriculum, represents a unique educational opportunity, cannot reasonably occur without interrupting the school day, and is approved in writing by the school principal (I.C. 20-33-2-17.5);

  8. participating in a scheduled competition, exhibition, or event offered by: 1) the National FFA Organization, 2) the Indiana FFA Association, or 3) a 4-H club for not more than six (6) school days provided that the student is in good academic standing as determined by the Corporation, the student's parent has requested the absence in writing, and the school principal has provided written approval for the absence (I.C. 20-33-2-17.8).

For any of these exceptions a student shall not be recorded as absent from school.

Additionally, the Board shall allow a student to attend a school for religious instruction that is conducted by a church, an association of churches, or an association that is organized for religious instruction and incorporated under Indiana law for not more than 120 minutes per week if an elementary school student and for not more than the amount of time that is equivalent to attending one (1) elective course at the public secondary school during the week if a secondary school student for the student to receive religious instruction if the student's parent makes a written request for such absence to the school principal and the school principal approves that request, as provided in Board Policy 5223 - Released Time for Religious Instruction. A student who is receiving religious instruction as indicated herein shall not be recorded as absent from school.

The Superintendent shall require, from the parent of each student or from an adult or emancipated student who has been absent for any reason, a verbal statement and written statement of the cause for such absence. The Board reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each:

  1. absence of more than ten (10) days duration;
  2. repeated unexplained absence and tardiness.

The Board considers the following as reasons for excused absences:

  1. illness verified by a note from the parent
  2. illness verified by a note from a physician
  3. required court attendance by subpoena or court order
  4. professional appointments – Parents are encouraged to schedule medical, dental, legal, and other necessary appointments other than during school hours. When appointments are necessary during the school day, the student shall report back to school immediately after the appointment with a signed statement from the doctor, dentist, lawyer, counselor, etc., as applicable.
  5. death in the immediate family or of a relative
  6. observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday verified by a note from the parent
  7. vacation during the school year requested by the student's parent and approved by the Principal

The Corporation shall categorize excused absences based on the reason for the absence in accordance with the categorization framework established by the Indiana Department of Education pursuant to I.C. 20-19-3-12.4.

Unexcused Absences

Unexcused Absence shall mean any absence not covered under the definition of excused absence or an exception to compulsory attendance as stated above. An out-of-school suspension shall not be considered an unexcused absence.

Repeated instances of unexcused absences may result in disciplinary action. However, no student shall be suspended or expelled solely because the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant, as defined below.

Chronically Absent

Chronically absent shall mean missing ten percent (10%) or more of a school year for any reason.

Truancy and Habitual Truants

Truancy shall mean an absence from school that is not an excused absence as stated above or that is not an absence under a parent request that has been filed with the school.

Habitual Truant shall mean a student who has been absent from school for ten (10) days or more within a school year without being excused or without being absent under a parental request that has been filed with the school.

The Superintendent, Corporation attendance officer, a security police officer appointed under I.C. 36-8-3-7, or a Corporation police officer appointed under I.C. 20-26-16 shall report a child who is a habitual truant to the prosecuting attorney in the county in which the student resides by filing an affidavit as provided in I.C. 20-33-2-26. Each of the aforementioned individuals has an independent duty to file such an affidavit under State law. The Superintendent or Corporation attendance officer also shall report a student who is habitually absent from school in violation of the compulsory school attendance law to an intake officer of the juvenile court of the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS).

A student who is a habitual truant shall be permitted to participate in extracurricular activities.

Truancy Prevention

Truancy Prevention Measures shall mean actions designed to address truancy before a student becomes a habitual truant and to minimize the need for referrals to a voluntary truancy prevention program or reports to a juvenile court.

For purposes of the Corporation's truancy prevention measures, absent student shall mean a student in Kindergarten through Grade 6 who is absent from school five (5) days within a ten (10) week period without being excused or absent in conformity with a note on file from the student's doctor, therapist, or other authorized professional requesting frequent absences be excused under the student's individualized education program (IEP), service plan developed under 511 IAC 7-34, choice scholarship education plan developed under 51 IAC 7-49, or Section 504 plan. When a student is identified as an absent student under this policy, the school that the student attends shall:

  1. Immediately provide written notification to the student's parent that:
     
    1. The student has been identified as an absent student based on the student's school attendance.
    2. The parent is responsible for monitoring the student's school attendance and ensuring the student attends school, in accordance with compulsory attendance laws.
    3. The school will be initiating truancy prevention measures for the student.
    4. The parent is required to attend an attendance conference regarding the truancy prevention measures that the school will be implementing for the student.
    5. If the student meets the definition of a habitual truant:
       
      1. the Superintendent or Corporation attendance officer is required to report the student to an intake officer of the juvenile court or DCS in accordance with I.C. 20-33-2-25
      2. the juvenile court may determine that the student is committing a delinquent act as provided under I.C. 31-37-2-3; and
      3. the student's parent may be subject to prosecution under I.C. 35-46-1-4.
  2. Hold an attendance conference with at least the following individuals to discuss the student's absences and establish a plan for the student to prevent future absences:
     
    1. A representative of the school.
    2. A teacher of the student.
    3. The student's parent.
    4. A representative chosen by the student's parent who may provide insight into the student's absenteeism if the student's parent makes a request to the school that the representative attend and provides notice to the school regarding the identification of the representative at least forty-eight (48) hours before the attendance conference.

      The attendance conference shall be held not more than ten (10) instructional days after the student's fifth absence in a ten (10) week period regardless of whether the parent or the parent's chosen representative is able to attend the conference. The school shall make all reasonable efforts to hold the attendance conference on a date and at a time that works with the schedule of the student's parent.
  3. At the attendance conference, establish a plan for the student to prevent future absences that may include the following:
     
    1. Any wraparound services that are able to be provided to the absent student to ensure the absent student attends school.
    2. A specific description of the behavior that is required or prohibited for the absent student.
    3. The period for which the plan will be effective, not to exceed forty-five (45) instructional days after the date it is established.
    4. Any additional disciplinary action the school will take if the absent student does not comply with the plan.
    5. If applicable, a referral to counseling, mentoring, or other services for the student.
    6. If applicable, whether a parent is expected to attend the counseling, mentoring, or other services with the student.

      The school representative shall ask the absent student's parent to sign the plan indicating the parent's agreement to comply with its terms.
  4. Offer additional counseling services to an absent student if the school determines that the student's absences are related to any of the following:
     
    1. The student's pregnancy.
    2. The student is in foster care (as defined in I.C. 31-9-2-46.7).
    3. The student is homeless.
    4. The student has a severe or life-threatening illness or related treatment.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines on attendance that properly address the matter of truancy by including a process which:

  1. identifies the habitual truant, that is, a student who has been absent from school ten (10) days or more within a school year without being excused or without being absent under a parental request that has been filed with the school;

  2. investigates the cause(s) of the student's truant behavior;

  3. considers, when appropriate, modification of the student's educational program to meet particular needs that may be causing the truancy;

  4. provides for the discipline of truant students in accordance with the Corporation's policies and administrative guidelines on student discipline.

No student shall be suspended or expelled solely because the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant. However, a student who attends a virtual education program operated by the Corporation who is a habitual truant shall be withdrawn from enrollment in the virtual education program.

The Superintendent shall make available to all parents and adult or emancipated students the Board's policy and the Corporation's administration guidelines on attendance.

Revised 5/16/16

Revised 3/19/18

Revised 7/22/24

© Neola 2025