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Student Attendance

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

INTRODUCTION

It is the philosophy of the Indian River School District that students need to attend school if they are to succeed within the educational process. Parents/guardians can assist in this by doing the following to minimize absences from school:

  • Schedule medical and dental appointments after regular school hours.
  • Schedule family vacations at times that do not interfere with school.

Each principal will conduct an assembly on or before September 15th each year to outline this attendance policy and consequences for unexcused absenteeism.

School-sponsored activities are exempt and will not count toward the student’s absentee record. However, students who approach the maximum number of allowable absences may be prohibited from participating in school-sponsored activities. The final decision will be made by the building principal.

 

Letters to the parent/guardian (address on file) and phone calls will be utilized throughout the school year to inform parents and students of accumulation of absences. If for any reason, a period of absence extends beyond three (3) consecutive days, the parent/guardian should contact the guidance department to determine if supportive instruction is warranted.

 

DEFINITION OF EXCUSED ABSENCE

  1. An absence followed by a note from the parent/guardian within 2 days of the students return to school (not to exceed 10 days per school year). In the event absenteeism exceeds (10) ten days within the given school year, any subsequent parent notes received will be considered Unexcused Absences.
  2. An absence followed by a documented note from a member of the medical or professional community for services such as: medical, dental, mental health, court system, attorney, or death within the student’s immediate family, etc...

Examples of Documented Notes from the Medical/Professional Community:

  • Hospitalization, as noted by the hospital or medical profession
  • Written physician’s excuse
  • Known chronic illnesses or contagious diseases, as noted by a medical professional.
  • Nurse’s Office excuse in the event a student is sent home for medical reasons
  • In the care of any approved social agency, whether public or private, as noted by that agency.
  • Death in the child’s own home or in the home of the grandparents, time not to exceed one (1) week. Funerals of other relatives or close friends, not to exceed one (1) day if in the locality; or three (3) days, if at some distance or outside of the state, as noted by a Funeral Home or other official means.
  • Legal business; legal professional or court.
  • Religious holiday, approved by the building administrator.
  • Suspension from school.
  • Family trip/event which was previously submitted to the building principal for review/approval within 5 days of the trip or event. These requests may be granted on a case by case basis with consideration of the student’s existing attendance record, grades, number of days requested, justifiable cause/purpose for request. Call the school office for request form.
 

Students, who are also parents, may provide any of the documentation stated above when caring for their own children.

 

DEFINITION OF UNEXCUSED ABSENCE

  1. An absence which does not include a parent/guardian note within the two (2) day time frame of the student’s return to school.
  2. Any absence in excess of (10) days without a documented note for a medical/professional reason. 

SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS DURING ABSENCES

It is the responsibility of the student and the parent/guardian to request class work, homework, assignments, and tests missed when not in attendance. A student or the parent/guardian must request to make up the schoolwork within two (2) days after returning to school. 

UNEXCUSED TARDIES AND EARLY DISMISSALS

Each building will monitor students who arrive late to school or leave school early. Students are limited to no more than four (4) tardies and/or early dismissals within a single calendar month. Students accumulating tardies/dismissals in excess of this limitation may be subject to disciplinary consequences according to their school’s discipline matrix.

 

RETENTION/LOSS OF CREDITS FOR DAYS ABSENT

Once a student has exhausted the maximum number of ten (10) days absenteeism with the use of parent notes and continues to be absent without a medical/professional documented note, he/she may be considered for retention/denial of any or all credit(s) by the Building Attendance Review Committee for that particular school year.

BUILDING ATTENDANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE

  1. Each school building in the Indian River School District shall establish a Building Attendance Review Committee which may be comprised of the following personnel:

    Principal and/or Assistant Principal Guidance Counselor

    Classroom Teacher Nurse

    Visiting Teacher

    Special Education Coordinator

    School Climate Personnel

    Other staff members as may be needed

  2. The responsibility of the Building Attendance Review Committee is to review the record of any student who has exceeded the provisions of the attendance policy. Any student with a history of poor attendance as substantiated by either a “Notice of Prosecution” for a violation of Delaware school attendance law or a parent meeting with the Building Attendance Review Committee may be subject to more restrictive attendance criteria as established by the Building Attendance Review Committee per IRSD regulation.
  3. If the Review Committee determines that the student has violated the Indian River School District Policy, then the committee shall follow the due process procedure as outlined in this policy.

DISTRICT ATTENDANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE

  1. The Indian River School District shall establish a District Attendance Review Committee which may be comprised of the following personnel:

    District-level administrator designated by the superintendent High school administrator

    Middle school administrator

    Elementary school administrator Elementary counselor

    Secondary counselor Nurse

    Other staff members as needed

  2. The responsibility of the District Attendance Review Committee is to review the decisions of each school’s Building Attendance Review Committee to determine that decisions are in accordance with the district’s student attendance policy.
  3. The District Attendance Review Committee shall hear student appeals.
  4. In those cases where appeals are upheld, the committee shall follow the due process procedures as outlined in this policy.

DUE PROCESS

  1. The Building Attendance Review Committee shall meet once a student has exceeded the provisions of the attendance policy.
  2. If the Building Attendance Review Committee determines that a student in grade K-12 has violated the Indian River School District student attendance policy and determines the student is being retained/denied credit, the committee shall notify the parent/guardian by certified mail.
  3. The student or parent/guardian must notify the building principal, in writing, within five (5) school days from the delivery of the certified mailing to appeal the decision of the Building Attendance Review Committee.
  4. Once the appeal is requested, the District Attendance Review Committee shall meet within five (5) school days of the hearing request for the purpose of hearing the student’s appeal. The District Attendance Review Committee shall have the right to affirm, reverse, or modify the decision of the building Attendance Review Committee.
  5. The District Attendance Review Committee shall inform the parent/guardian of its decision by a certified mail within three (3) school days of the hearing.
  6. If the District Attendance Review Committee affirms the decision of the building Attendance Review Committee, the student may appeal to the Office of the Superintendent.
  7. If all appeals are denied, the student may appeal to the Board of Education. The Board of Education shall have the right to affirm, reverse, or modify the decision of the Office of the Superintendent.

Students who follow the due process procedures of this policy as a result of receiving notification that they are in violation of the Indian River School District Student Attendance policy shall continue to attend school under the guidelines of this policy.