5200 - ATTENDANCE
The School Board requires all students enrolled in the schools of this Corporation to attend school regularly in accordance with the laws of the State. The Corporation'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.
Excusable Reasons for Absence
The Corporation accepts only the following as excusable reasons for absence from school. Each absence shall be explained in writing and signed by the student's parents or reported by phone by the student’s parent. The excuse shall be submitted to the principal and filed as part of the student's school record.
A written excuse for absence from school may be approved for one (1) or more of the following reasons or conditions:
Illness that involves fever, vomiting, diarrhea, accidents, injuries or other illnesses, or if absence is recommended by a physician.
Death of an immediate family member.
Medical or dental appointments that cannot be scheduled outside the school day.
Travel for a limited time period involving new educational experiences for a student, which is requested, on an infrequent basis, by parents or guardian at least one (1) week in advance of the proposed absence.
Other highly extenuating circumstances that will be determined by the principal/designee.
Service as a page in the Indiana General Assembly.
Weekly religious instruction.
Attendance to Indiana State Fair on Education Day.
Appearance in court under a subpoena as a witness in a judicial proceeding.
Observance of Religious Holidays
Any student shall be excused for the purpose of observing a religious holiday consistent with his/her creed or belief.
Other reasons authorized by law.
Absences that do not accumulate against this guideline include college visits, not to exceed two (2) days in number.
Parents/Guardians are to call the school attendance line on or before the day of absence.
If your child sees a licensed medical professional during his/her absence (including routine medical appointments), please provide a "Doctor’s Statement" upon your child’s return to school.
School personnel will monitor attendance and will contact parents as needed. This may include visits to the home. Excessive absences and tardies will adversely impact academic progress. This may result in referral of excessive unexcused absences and tardies to Child Protective Services as educational neglect. Absences and tardy records will follow each student within the NAFC School Corporation.
For educational reasons, travel/vacations during the school year are strongly discouraged. However, when unavoidable, requests should be made in writing and sent to the principal’s office in advance. Arrangements for schoolwork should be discussed with the child’s teacher. (Failure to notify the school in advance could result in an unexcused absence.)
Any student arriving after the start of school will be counted tardy. Students who are tardy are required to sign into the office.
Truancy
Truancy demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the educational program and is considered as a serious matter. Truancy is defined as absence from school, class, or an assigned activity without the permission of the parent/legal guardian or principal/designee. A student will also be considered truant if s/he leaves a class, a school-sponsored activity, and/or the school without the proper permission of school authorities. Administrative action taken will be as follows:
A record of the truancy will be entered in the student's record file.
A parent conference may be held.
Other administrative action may include suspension or expulsion.
In accordance with State law, the building principal and/or attendance officer may use Form 5200 F to keep the Bureau of Motor Vehicles informed of each student whose truancy has resulted in at least two (2) suspensions, an expulsion, or an exclusion from school or if the student has withdrawn from school in an effort to circumvent the loss of his/her learner's permit or application for a driver's license. The student's current license cannot be revoked for habitual truancy.
The disciplining of truant students shall be in accord with Board policies and due process, as defined in Policy 5611 and the Student Code of Conduct.
Students Leaving School During School Day
No staff member shall permit or cause any student to leave school prior to the regular hour of dismissal except with the knowledge and approval of the principal and with the knowledge and approval of the student's parents.
No student will be released to any government agency without proper warrant or written parental permission except in the event of an emergency as determined by the principal.
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 must include, but not be limited to:
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.
speaking frequently of the importance of students being in class, on time, ready to participate;
keeping accurate attendance records in an official school gradebook.
Make-Up Opportunities
Students will be given the opportunity for making-up work missed due to excused absences. The length of time for completion of make-up work shall be commensurate with the length of the absence.