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JED STUDENT ABSENCES Regular and
punctual patterns of attendance will be required of each student enrolled in
the district. It is recognized
that absences from school may be necessary under certain conditions. However, every effort should be made by
students, parents, teachers, and administrators to keep absences and
tardiness to a minimum. Student
attendance at school is basically the responsibility of the parents and
student. In order for the parents to
fulfill their responsibility the school must keep them informed of student
absences. If a student misses more
than four school days per quarter, a plan to improve the student’s attendance
will be developed in consultation with the parent. An adequate and
comprehensive system of attendance records will be maintained for each
student. Each teacher is responsible
for accurate reporting of daily attendance in his/her classroom. The building
principal is responsible for submitting attendance information to the
Superintendent's office. The Board recognizes two
kinds of absence: excused absence, and truancy. Excused absence
is absence because of illness, death in the student’s immediate family,
participation in school activities, or other approved reason that has been
verified with a written note from a physician or other qualified health
professional who is treating the student, from a
school official or a parent. Students
are not excused from any academic requirements for grading, regardless of the
reason for the absence, except for reasonable modifications as required in an
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) pursuant to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973. Any absence
other than an excused absence is considered truancy. A student who
skips or leaves a class without permission after reporting to school is
truant. Any student who is absent from
school without the knowledge and permission of his/her parents or school
authorities is truant. Absences, even
with the approval of the parents, which are excessive and/or which interfere
with the student's educational program will be interpreted as truancy and
follow-up legal procedures will be instituted. See In addition,
excessive excused absences from class will be dealt with by individual
teachers and may result in lowering of the student's grade or failure in the
class if course requirements have not been met. Assignment of lower grades because of
excessive absences and/or truancy shall occur on the basis of grading terms
as outlined below: When a student has been absent
from a class more than four days per quarter, an intervention team will
contact the parent and student to develop a plan to improve the student’s
attendance. When a student has been absent
from a class more than four days per quarter, an intervention team will
contact the parent and student to develop a plan to improve the student’s
attendance. When a student has been absent)
from a class more than four days per quarter, that student will receivean incomplete, or the actual grade earned, if
lower, for the term. A student may
make up excessive absences based on attending afterschool tutoring. The plan for making up excessive absences
will be developed with the parent and student and approved by the Principal.
If the required work is not completed in 10 school days, the grade becomes an
administrative failure. Rochester Elementary Schools When a student has been absent
from a class more than four days per quarter, that
student will receive an incomplete in all subject areas, or the actual grade
earned, if lower, for the quarter. The
student will need to attend afterschool tutoring or additional activities to
have the incomplete changed on their report card. A team will develop an
intervention plan to improve the student attendance for any student with
excessive absences. If the required work is not completed in 10 school days,
the grade becomes an administrative failure. When an
elementary student has been absent from school for more than four days during
a term, a team, including educators and parents, will be formed to develop a
plan to ensure improved attendance and to design required academic support
strategies. These strategies may include completion of missed
assignments and/or participation in compensatory instruction, possibly during
non-school hours. Failure to satisfy the conditions of the support
plan may result in an incomplete grade or in either academic or
administrative failure for the term. Habitually Truant NHRSA 913:16
empowers the Rochester School Department to define habitually truant as: a
child that misses 10 full days or 20 half days of school. Excused Absences: 1.
Illness or injury requiring a
doctor’s visit or consultation.
(Official documentation from a doctor is needed upon return to
school.) 2.
Legal matters, death of relative
or friend, religious holidays, and college visitations must be verified by
official documentation. 3.
School sponsored field
trips/athletic events must be verified by the staff member in charge. 4.
Family vacations at the Elementary
School and Middle School must be submitted two weeks in advance of the trip
and students must be in good academic standing. Students at the 5.
High School student absences can
only be excused at the discretion of a High School administrator and are not
recommended because of Block Scheduling concerns. 6.
All suspension days will be considered as
excused absences at Dismissals: 1.
The only grounds for dismissal are
medical, funeral, approved work coop or senior privilege at 2.
Parents/guardians are strongly
urged to schedule medical/therapeutic appointments outside of the school day. 3.
If a student is dismissed for more
than one hour of class time at the Middle School and Elementary School level he/she is considered absent for one
half of a day. 4.
If a student is dismissed for
illness by the school nurse at the High School and Middle School, and the
school nurse or building principal at the elementary school, it is considered
an excused absence. If, in the opinion
of the school nurse or building principal, the cause of the student’s
dismissal and subsequent absence justifies multiple days of absence, no
additional note from a physician, parent or other professional will be
required. Adoption Date: Amended: Amended: |