We want to take a moment to remind you that attendance matters for every child in every grade, from pre-Kindergarten through high school. The Young Child Wellness Council produced this video to promote the importance of school attendance. We encourage you to share the video with your school community. To learn how chronic absenteeism impacts our state, review the recently released report Chronic Absenteeism in Early Grades.

Attendance Policy:

Attendance is a key factor in student achievement; therefore, students are expected to be present each day school is in session.

The Director of Schools/designee shall ensure that this policy is posted in each school building and disseminated to all students, parent(s)/guardian(s), teachers, and administrative staff.

The Attendance Supervisor shall oversee the entire attendance program which shall include:1

1. All accounting and reporting procedures and their dissemination;

2. Alternative program options for students who severely fail to meet minimum attendance requirements;

3. Ensuring that all school age children attend school;

4. Providing documentation of enrollment status upon request for students applying for new or reinstatement of driver's permit or license; and

5. Notifying the Department of Safety whenever a student with a driver's permit or license withdraws from school.2

Student attendance records shall be given the same level of confidentiality as other student records. Only authorized school officials with legitimate educational purposes may have access to student information without the consent of the student or parent(s)/guardian(s).3

Absences shall be classified as either excused or unexcused as determined by the principal/designee. Excused absences shall include:4

1. Personal illness/injury; (A doctor's statement will be required for students being absent after the fifth day of personal illness)

2. Illness of immediate family member;

3. Death in the family;

4. Extreme weather conditions;

5. Religious observances;5

6. Pregnancy;

7. School endorsed activities;

8. Summons, subpoena, or court order; or

9. Circumstances which in the judgment of the principal create emergencies over which the student has no control.

A student shall be required to have a note from the parent stating the reason for the absence.

The principal shall be responsible for ensuring that:6

1. Attendance is checked and reported daily for each class;

2. Daily absentee sheets contain sign in/sign out sheets and indicate students present or absent for the majority of the day;

3. All student absences are verified;

4. Written excuses are submitted for absences and tardiness (including medical notes); within five (5) school days from the date of the absence or late arrival; and

5. System-wide procedures for accounting and reporting are followed.

TRUANCY

Annually, the Director of Schools/designee will provide written notice to parent(s)/guardian(s) that attendance at school is required. Students shall be present at least fifty percent (50%) of the scheduled school day in order to be counted present. Students may attend part-time days, alternating days, or for a specific amount of time as indicated in their Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan and shall be considered present for school attendance purposes. If a student is required to participate in a remedial instruction program outside of the regular school day where there is no cost to the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the school district provides transportation, unexcused absences from these programs shall be reported in the same manner.7

A student who is absent five (5) days without adequate excuse shall be reported to the Director of Schools/designee who will, in turn, provide written notice to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student's absence. If a parent/guardian does not provide documentation within adequate time excusing those absences or request an attendance hearing, then the Director of Schools shall implement the progressive truancy intervention plan described below prior to referral to juvenile court.

Progressive Truancy Plan8

Tier I of the progressive truancy plan shall apply to all students within the district and include schoolwide prevention-oriented supports to assist with satisfactory attendance. These supports shall include, but are not limited to individual and group student incentives for good attendance, student mentor program, final test exemption, student attendance curriculum, parent education, etc.

Tier II of the progressive truancy plan shall be implemented after the student accumulates five (5) unexcused absences, but before referral to juvenile court, and includes the following:

1. A conference with the student and the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s);

2. An attendance contract, based on the conference, signed by the student, the parent(s)/guardian(s), and the Attendance Supervisor/designee. The contract shall include:

a. A specific description of the school’s attendance expectations for the student;

b. The period for which the contract is effective; and

c. Penalties for additional absences and alleged school offenses, including additional disciplinary action and potential referral to juvenile court.

3. Regularly scheduled follow-up meetings to discuss the student’s progress; and

4. A school employee shall conduct an individualized assessment detailing the reasons a student has been absent from school. The employee may refer the student to counseling, community-based services, or other services to address the student’s attendance problems.

Tier III shall be implemented if the truancy interventions under Tier II are unsuccessful. Tier III shall consist of the following interventions: school-based community services; additional meetings with parents, home visits, meetings with principal/teacher, utilization of school transportation. Student and Family will be notified of additional available resources and interventions designed to improve issues contributing to student absences. The interventions shall address students’ needs in an age-appropriate manner. Finalized plans shall be approved by the Director of Schools/designee.

The accumulation of any additional unexcused student absences will result in a petition in juvenile court.

NON-SCHOOL SPONSORED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY9

A principal/designee may excuse a student to participate in non-school sponsored extracurricular activities. The principal shall document the approval in writing and shall excuse no more than ten (10) absences each school year. No later than seven (7) business days prior to the student’s absence, the student shall provide documentation to the school as proof of the student’s participation along with a written request for the excused absence from the student’s parent/guardian. The request shall include the following:

1. Student’s name and personal identification number;

2. Student’s grade;

3. The dates of the student’s absence;

4. The reason for the student’s absence; and

5. The signatures of the student and parent/guardian.

MAKE-UP WORK

Arrangements for make-up work (excused absences only) must be made by the student immediately upon the student's return to school. All make-up work will be completed within 3 days of the student's return to school. If a student fails to complete the make-up work in the time required, a zero will be earned for the make-up work unless an excused absence for that time is presented. Students with an excused absence may then request another time for make-up work. The above arrangements will be made so that class time is not taken from other students. A student will not be allowed to make-up their work for unexcused absences and a zero will be given for assignments on the day of the absence. Suspended days are unexcused absences and no make-up work will be given.

STATE-MANDATED ASSESSMENT

Students who are absent the day of the scheduled end-of-course (EOC) exams shall present a signed doctor’s excuse or have been given an excused release by the principal prior to testing to receive an excused absence. Students who have excused absences will be allowed to take a make-up exam. Excused students will receive an incomplete in the course until they have taken the EOC exam.

Students who have an unexcused absence shall receive a failing grade on the EOC exam which shall be averaged into their final grade.

CREDIT/PROMOTION DENIAL

Credit/promotion denial determinations may include student attendance; however, student attendance may not be the sole criterion.11 If attendance is a factor prior to credit/promotion denial, the following shall occur:

1. The student and the parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be advised if the student is in danger of credit/promotion denial due to excessive absenteeism; and

2. Procedures in due process are available to the student when credit or promotion is denied.

GUIDELINES FOR PROMOTION/RETENTION FOR ANY GRADE LEVEL OPERATING ON A MODIFIED A/B BLOCK SCHEDULE

Each student must have a grade of 60 or above to pass an individual class. If a student is absent from class more than 8 days during either semester (excused or unexcused), he/she shall not receive credit for that class during that semester. In the case of an illness or accident that would necessitate an absence of 5 days of school, a homebound teacher should be requested. Students who have been absent more than 8 days from any class per semester shall have the opportunity to go to "Summer Make-up Program" and/or approved "After School Program" in order to receive class credit. The cost of this program will be set at $10 per hour of make-up.

In order to be promoted to the next grade, students must complete the prescribed number of credits (Carnegie units) per grade level designated by the Board of Education and the State of Tennessee:

6 credits or more at the end of the 9th grade

12 credits or more at the end of the 10th grade

18 credits or more at the end of the 11th grade

24 credits or more at the end of the 12th grade

Honor roll students will be determined by having an overall average of 90-100 for any one nine-week period. Students who meet these standards, and who do not request otherwise, will have their names submitted to the principal for release to the news media.

DRIVER'S LICENSE REVOCATION2

A student who has more than ten (10) consecutive or fifteen (15) unexcused absences during any semester shall be ineligible to retain a driver's permit or license.

ATTENDANCE HEARING12

Students with excessive (more than five (5)) unexcused absences or those in danger of credit/promotion denial shall have the opportunity to appeal to an attendance hearing committee appointed by the principal. If the student chooses to appeal, the student or his/her parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be provided written or actual notice of the appeal hearing and shall be given the opportunity to address the committee. The committee will conduct a hearing to determine if any extenuating circumstances exist to excuse an absence(s) or to determine if the student has met attendance requirements that will allow him/her to pass the course or be promoted. Upon notification of the attendance committee decision, the principal shall send written notification to the Director of Schools/designee and the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student of any action taken regarding the excessive unexcused absences. The notification shall advise parent(s)/guardian(s) of their right to appeal such action within two (2) school days to the Director of Schools/designee.

The appeal shall be heard no later than ten (10) school days after the request for appeal is received.

Within five (5) school days of the Director of Schools/designee rendering a decision, the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) may request a hearing by the Board, and the Board shall review the record. Following the review, the Board may affirm or overturn the decision of the Director of Schools/designee. The action of the Board shall be final