Attend_policy

WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
ATTENDANCE POLICY SUMMARY

Philosophy

The Washington County School District recognizes that regular attendance at school greatly enhances the opportunity for students to profit from the educational programs provided by their teachers. Frequent absences from the day-to-day classroom experience disrupt the instructional process. The benefits of instruction, once lost, cannot entirely be regained. The entire process of education requires continuity of instruction, class participation, learning experience, and study.

State Compulsory Education Requirement

Utah Code, Section 53A-11-101, allows parents of students enrolled in public schools to excuse their student from school when the student is absent for a "legitimate or valid reason" such as illness or family emergency. Fifth District Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over all juveniles residing in Washington County. It is the expectation of the court that students within its jurisdiction will be in regular attendance at the school in which they are enrolled.

The Washington County School Board wants to make every effort to be in compliance with state law and work together with the Fifth District Juvenile Court to encourage the regular attendance of all Washington County students. It believes this to be in the best interest of student and the community. The Board and Washington County schools are committed to work in harmony with parents and to assist them with their responsibility to have their children in attendance at school.

Attendance

If a student accumulates a total of six (6) attendance points during a term in any class period, the grade and credit for that class will be changed to a NG (No Grade) until the student has completed the required restitution.
Excused absence (E)

1 point

An absence excused by a parent; prior to, the day of, or up to two days after return from absence.

Unexcused absence (X)

2 points

Any absence not excused in accordance with the definition for an excused absence.

Truancy (S)

2 points

All truancies require immediate restitution--accumulation of six (6) points is not necessary in the case of truancy.

Exempt absence (A,V,H,C)

0 points

School Activity (A) - absence due to involvement in a school-sponsored activity is part of a students educational experience.

Educational Travel (V) - Travel with family or others may be considered an educational activity, but requires prior notification and approval with appropriate assignments related to the travel completed and turned in.

Homebound (H) - Illness or injury which causes absence in excess of five consecutive days will not be considered an absence if a homebound teacher is requested and contact is made. Such absences require verification by a physician. Surgery or accident may qualify.

Chronic Illness (H) - Absence due to a chronic illness. Requires prior notification and a negotiated individual attendance policy as well as verification by a physician.

Court Detention (G) - Absence due to required legal consequences. Must be verified.
Tardiness

Definition
A tardy is defined as reporting to class after the bell to start class has sounded. A tardy can be excused by a parent when an emergency situation results in a student arriving at school late. A student may not be excused for tardiness between classes. An excused tardy will be removed from the student's record and will have no penalty.

Rationale
Tardiness not only hinders a student's ability to profit from instruction at the beginning of class, but it interrupts the work of the other students who made the effort to be on time. In addition, tardy students are usually in the hallways interrupting other classes and the efforts of other students/friends to be to class on time. Punctual students perform better in school and at work.

Suggested Policy (Each school is required to have a uniform tardy policy with consequences and incentives to discourage tardiness. A suggested policy is found below.)

Tardy less than 10 minutes (T)

.5 point

At a school's discretion, each tardy may be assigned one-half of an attendance point, if late by no more than 10 minutes.

Tardy more than 10 but less than 20 minutes (W)

1 point

To encourage students not to prolong tardiness, a student who is more than 10 minutes late to a class, but less than 20 minutes late, will be assigned one attendance point.

Tardy more then 20 minutes (X)

2 points

Students who are late by more than 20 minutes for class without parental excuse will be considered absent without excuse and assigned two attendance points.

Excused Tardy (L)

Tardiness at arrival to school may be excused by a parent, but will be tracked for impact on schooling.
Restitution

Attendance at one restitution session will result in the removal of one attendance point.
Restitution sessions are 1 hour long and cost $2.00. They are held before or after school and on Saturdays.
Restitution should begin immediately following receipt of a sixth attendance point or notification of a grade withheld (NG). All required restitution must be completed within the term immediately following that term in which the grade was withheld. If restitution is not completed the grade will be remain a No Grade (NG) and credit for the class will be lost. Lost credit that is not made up may impact graduation.

Parent notification

Each term, parents will be notified by phone or post card the first time a student accumulates 4 attendance points in a class period.
Each term, parents will be immediately notified by letter when their student accumulates more than 5 attendance points and earns a No Grade (NG).
Following these initial notifications it will be the parent's responsibility to contact the school or access "Power School" to learn of subsequent attendance problems.

Appeal process

Students who have received a NG and feel there were mitigating circumstances which should be considered, are invited to notify school administration and request that grades be restored.
If all absences are excused, grades may be restored.
If one or more absences are not excused an appeal form must be completed and presented to the "Attendance Review Committee". The committee will, in conjunction with the school principal, determine the amount of restitution required for restoration of the grade.
Dissatisfaction with the decision of the committee can be appealed to the Washington County School Board through the Superintendent.

Additional clarification of this policy, i.e. the entire policy 2900-Attendance Policy, may be found at the District website www.wash.k12.ut.us.

Excused absence (E)	1 point	An absence excused by a parent; prior to, the day of, or up to two days after return from absence.
Unexcused absence (X)	2 points	Any absence not excused in accordance with the definition for an excused absence.
Truancy (S)	2 points	All truancies require immediate restitution--accumulation of six (6) points is not necessary in the case of truancy.
Exempt absence (A,V,H,C)	0 points	School Activity (A) - absence due to involvement in a school-sponsored activity is part of a students educational experience. Educational Travel (V) - Travel with family or others may be considered an educational activity, but requires prior notification and approval with appropriate assignments related to the travel completed and turned in. Homebound (H) - Illness or injury which causes absence in excess of five consecutive days will not be considered an absence if a homebound teacher is requested and contact is made. Such absences require verification by a physician. Surgery or accident may qualify. Chronic Illness (H) - Absence due to a chronic illness. Requires prior notification and a negotiated individual attendance policy as well as verification by a physician. Court Detention (G) - Absence due to required legal consequences. Must be verified.

Tardy less than 10 minutes (T)	.5 point	At a school's discretion, each tardy may be assigned one-half of an attendance point, if late by no more than 10 minutes.
Tardy more than 10 but less than 20 minutes (W)	1 point	To encourage students not to prolong tardiness, a student who is more than 10 minutes late to a class, but less than 20 minutes late, will be assigned one attendance point.
Tardy more then 20 minutes (X)	2 points	Students who are late by more than 20 minutes for class without parental excuse will be considered absent without excuse and assigned two attendance points.
Excused Tardy (L)		Tardiness at arrival to school may be excused by a parent, but will be tracked for impact on schooling.