5200- STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The School Board requires all students enrolled in the schools and programs it offers to attend school regularly in accordance with the laws of the State. The Board’s educational program is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. The regular contact of students with one another in the classroom and their participation in a well-planned instructional activity under the tutelage of a competent teacher are vital to this purpose.

Attendance, as used in this guideline, means 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.

Exceptions to Compulsory Attendance

Exceptions to compulsory attendance recognized by the School Corporation are contained in Board Policy 5200 - Attendance. Students not in attendance at school for one (1) of the exceptions contained in Board Policy 5200 will be recorded as having an excused absence from school.

Excused Absences

Each student absence will be explained verbally by the student if over eighteen (18) or an emancipated minor or by the student’s parents if the student is not yet eighteen (18) or an emancipated minor.

An excuse for absence from school may be approved for one (1) or more of the reasons contained in Board Policy 5200.

If a student over eighteen (18), an emancipated minor, or the student's parent, if the student is not yet eighteen (18) or an emancipated minor presents a certificate of incapacity appropriately completed and signed by an Indiana physician, an individual holding a license to practice osteopathy or chiropractic in Indiana, or a Christian Science practitioner who resides in Indiana and is listed in the Christian Science Journal, the absence(s) covered by the dates provided in the certificate of incapacity will be excused.

Other excused absences include college visits. 

Excused absences must be categorized 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

Any absence that is not an excused absence or an exception to compulsory attendance contained in Board Policy 5200 is an unexcused absence. An out-of-school suspension is not considered an unexcused absence.

Student Vacations During the School Year

Students are permitted to go on vacation during the school year without penalty (except the last week in each semester). The purpose of this administrative guideline is to establish standards to accommodate parents who want to take their vacations during the school year and the desire to enjoy that time as a family.

Whenever a proposed absence for vacation is requested, parents must discuss it with the Principal. The length of absence must be made clear, and those involved should have an opportunity to express their views on the potential effects of the absence.

1. A student may be given approximate assignments and materials for completion during an excused absence. Assignments will not be given or graded for credit for an unexcused absence.
2. Separate daily assignments may be given.

Chronically Absent

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

Truancy

A student is "truant" each day or part of the day the student has an absence from school that is not an excused absence as provided in Board Policy 5200 or that is not an absence under a parental request that has been filed with the school. "Absence" means not present at the assigned location any time beyond the tardiness limit. A student will be "tardy" rather than absent if the student is in the assigned location within fifteen (15) minutes after the official start of the school day, class, or assignment.

Truancy is a serious barrier to student achievement and represents a waste of scarce resources by failing to utilize instruction and curricular resources reserved for the truant student. To attempt to better utilize instructional resources on students willing to attempt to benefit from those resources, administrative action will be as follows:

1. Investigation into the cause of the truancy.
2. When appropriate, modification of the student's educational program to meet particular needs that may be causing the truancy.
3. Student discipline in accordance with the Corporation's policies and administrative guidelines on student discipline.
4. If a physical or mental impairment is suspected, initiation of an evaluation to determine the student's eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), as appropriate.
5. A parent conference may be held if the parent/guardian is willing and able to be an effective participant in addressing the truancy.
6. A record of the truancy will be maintained in the student's educational records.

The building principal and/or attendance officer may keep the Bureau of Motor Vehicles informed of each student who has been suspended for the second time in a school year, is expelled, or is considered a dropout under I.C. 20-33-2-28.5.

Truancy Prevention

The Corporation has established a truancy prevention policy for absent students. An "absent student" is a student in Kindergarten through Grade 6 who is absent from school five (5) days within a ten (10) week period without a valid excuse. (See Board Policy 5200 - Attendance)

In accordance with that policy, the school will hold an attendance conference to establish a plan for the absent student to prevent future absences. The attendance conference must 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 will 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.

The truancy prevention plan may include the following:

1. Any wraparound services that are able to be provided to the absent student to enable the absent student to attend 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 absent student.
6. If applicable, whether a parent is expected to attend the counseling, mentoring, or other services with the absent student.
7. Additional counseling or 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 (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 school will ask the parent to sign the plan indicating the parent's agreement to comply with its terms.

Habitual Truant

A student will be considered a "habitual truant" when the student has been absent from school more than ten (10) days within a school year without being excused or without being absent under a parental request that has been filed with the school.

Notice to Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles

The Building Principal and/or attendance officer will report each student who is a habitual truant to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Truant students will be disciplined in accordance with Board policies and due process described in the Student Code of Conduct and Board Policy 5600 - Student Discipline. However, no student will be suspended or expelled solely because the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant.

Students Leaving School During School Day

No student will leave school during the school day established by the class schedule for that student without authorization by a staff member. No staff member will permit or cause any student to leave the school prior to the regular dismissal time set by the schedule established for that student except with the approval of the Principal and with notice to the student’s parent/guardian.

Encouraging Attendance

Promoting and fostering desired student attendance habits requires a commitment from the administration, faculty, and parents. No single individual or group can - in and of itself - successfully accomplish this task.

A professional staff member's responsibility includes but is not limited to:

1. providing meaningful learning experiences every day;
   
   Therefore, a student who is absent from any given class period would be missing a significant component of the course.
2. keeping accurate attendance records (i.e., excused vs. unexcused);
3. requiring an admittance slip from a student when the student returns from an absence and invoking a consequence if the student does not have one;
4. requiring students to make up missed quizzes, tests, and other pertinent assignments before or after the regular school day and not permitting students to use instructional time to do make-up work, unless otherwise permitted by the student's individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan.

Make-Up Opportunities

A student may make up units of study with a properly certificated teacher if prior approval has been granted by the Principal or if required by the student's individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan.

1. Students will be given the opportunity for completing work missed due to approved/excused absences. The length of time for completion of missed work will be commensurate with the length of the absence unless more time is required by the student's IEP or Section 504 planor the teacher allows additional time.
2. Students will be given the opportunity to make-up work missed due to suspension. The make-up work must be completed and presented to the teacher upon their return to school. Tests missed during the period of suspension may be made up by the students by contacting the teacher on the day of their return to school. The teacher, at the teacher's convenience, may administer the test or assign alternate written work in lieu of the test missed.
3. A student wishing to make-up work must call their counselor to obtain assignments.

Tardiness

1. Students not in homeroom or in class when the late bell rings are considered tardy.
2. Students who attend any part of the class shall be recorded as present.
3. When a teacher detains a student after class, they will issue a late pass for the student's next class.
4. Teachers are to refer cases of chronic tardiness to the Principal.

Revised 10/11/05
Revised 11/13/07
Revised 2/14/12
Revised 11/11/14
Revised 1/12/16
T.C. 11/12/24
Revised 9/9/25

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