ATTENDANCE

ATTENDANCE

po5200Adopted June 26, 2006Revised July 14, 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.

The Board shall consider each student assigned to a program of other guided learning experiences, authorized under Policy 2370, to be in regular attendance for the program provided that s/he reports daily and/or weekly to an assigned staff member at the program location or to an assigned staff member where the student is participating in correspondence courses or military service and regularly demonstrates progress toward the objectives of the course of study.

Exceptions to Compulsory Attendance/Excused Absences (students are counted as present)

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 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 the National FFA Organization, Indiana FFA Association, or 4-H Club (IC 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 incorporation under Indiana law for not more than 120 minutes per week for the student to receive religious instruction if the student's parent makes a written request for such absence to the school principal, 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 or 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. single absence;
     
  2. repeated unexplained absence and tardiness.

The Board considers the following as reasons for excused absences - (Non-Exception - students are counted as absent):

  1. Administrator Approved – This category could include an absence from school that has been reviewed and authorized by a school administrator. This approval is based on a variety of circumstances including but not limited to health issues, family emergencies, religious observations, or other personal/extenuating circumstances. The decision to approve is at the discretion of the school administrator, ensuring that the absence meets the criteria set forth by school policies.
  2. Family Choice Planned -This category could include an absence pre-arranged by the student’s family for reasons such as vacations, family events, or other personal matters.

    This absence is generally considered a planned, non-emergency event that is scheduled in advance.
  3. Family Choice Unplanned – This category could include an absence that occurs unexpectedly due to unforeseen family circumstances or decisions such as a sudden emergency, an urgent need to attend to personal matters, School Nurse Request, weather, lack of transportation, or other impromptu situations. Even though the absence is not planned, it is still recognized by the school administration if it meets these criteria as determined by the school’s policies.
  4. Funeral/Bereavement – This category could include an absence due to the death of a close family member or loved one that requires a student to attend a funeral or engage in related mourning and family responsibilities. The absence is approved based on the student’s need to grieve, support their family, or participate in funeral-related activities
  5. Medical – This category could include an absence that occurs due to physical or mental illness, school avoidance, injury, or other health-related conditions that require the student to seek treatment or recovery. This type of absence is excused when documented by a parent call-in, a healthcare provider, or when the nature of the medical issue justifies the absence. The absence is approved based on the student’s need for rest, medical care, or recovery that ensures the student’s health and well-being are prioritized while maintaining compliance with school policies.
  6. Religious – This category could include an absence for the observance of religious holidays, practices, or events that are significant to a student’s faith.

Providing Education for Students with Long-Term Medical Conditions: A long-termprovider note is necessary when a student has been injured or suffers from an illness and is anticipated to be absent for a minimum of 20 instructional days over the course of the school year. 511 Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) 4-1.5-9 requires a school to provide instruction tostudents under these circumstances if the parent provides documentation from a licensedhealthcare provider with prescriptive authority indicating the student will meet the 20-daycriteria due to a medical condition. This long-term medical documentation provides the information necessary for a school to create a plan for meeting the student’s educational needs during these absences. Further consultation with the licensed healthcare provider may be necessary to determine the student’s ability to engage in educational activities and instruction during these absences. If the student is also a student with a disability, the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) case conference committee will determine services during these absences.

Unexcused Absences: An unexcused absence is any absence without authorization. 

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 ten (10) days or more from school 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 may not 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 five (5) 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 for the attendance of students which:

  1. provide a school session that is in conformity with the requirements of the law;
     
  2. permit students absent for any excusable reason to have an opportunity to make up work they missed;
     
  3. govern the maintenance of attendance records in accordance with the rules of the State Board;
     
  4. provide that any student who, due to a physical or mental impairment, exceeds or may exceed the Corporation's limit on excused absences is to be referred for an evaluation to determine eligibility under either the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).

Such guidelines shall provide that a student's grade in any course is based on performance in the instructional setting and is not reduced for misconduct. If a student violates the Corporation's attendance policy or other school rules, the student shall be disciplined appropriately for the misconduct, but grades shall be based upon what the student can demonstrate has been learned.

Such guidelines also shall provide for reporting to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles those students who have been suspended for the second time during a school year, are expelled, or are considered dropouts under I.C. 20-33-2-28.5.

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 ten (10) days or more from school 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;
     

  5. provides for reporting to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles those students who are habitual truants as provided in I.C. 20-33-2-11.

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 7/28/08
Revised 7/15/24
Revised 11/18/24

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