Administrative
Rule, JBD-R
GUIDELINES
AND PROCEDURES
a.
Excused absences are defined as those for which evidence
is provided to the school that the absence is legal according to Georgia Board
of Education rule 160-5-1-.10. Such
evidence may be a written doctor’s statement, or other documentation acceptable
to the school. Such evidence must be
provided within three (3) days after returning to school. Parental/guardian notes will be accepted for
the first five (5) absences. Absences
beyond five (5) may require medical notes or other documentation.
Georgia Board of Education Rule
160-5-1-.10 Regarding Excused Absences:
1. Personal
illness or attendance in school endangering a student’s health or the health of
others;
2. A
serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family necessitating absence
from school;
3. A
court order or any order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction
physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from
school;
4. Celebrating
religious holidays, necessitating absence from school;
5. Conditions
rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to the student’s health or safety;
or
6. A
period not to exceed one day is allowed, at the discretion of the local unit of
administration, for registering to vote or voting in a public election.
b.
Students whose absences are excused shall be permitted to
make up work missed. It shall be the responsibility of the student to arrange
for make-up work within three (3) days after returning to school. Work shall be made up at the teacher's
convenience, and the teacher shall have the discretion in determining
reasonable time limits within which it must be completed.
c.
In unusual situations where a student has to be absent
for reasons beyond the student's or parent's control, or where the purpose of
the absence may be of educational value, even though not legally excusable, the
local school MAY permit work to be made up provided the absence(s) is
approved by the principal in advance.
d.
Students
absent due to an extended physical illness or injury should utilize the
services of the Hospital/Homebound program if eligible.
a.
Unexcused absences are defined as any absence not meeting
the conditions of Section I.A. above.
b.
Students who are absent for unexcused reasons may not be
permitted to make up work missed.
Exceptions may be made in accordance with © above.
c.
In those instances where there exists reasonable doubt as
to the validity of continued absenteeism, the school principal or his/her
designee is directed to submit a referral to the attendance worker and/or
social worker for their investigation.
Consequences and
Penalties of Unexcused Absences
At the beginning of each school year,
parents/guardians and students will receive a copy of the attendance policy and
must sign a statement indicating receipt of the policy for failure to comply
with the compulsory attendance statute.
· Parents must attend
Truancy Treatment Team meeting if summoned for such a meeting.
· Charges may be filed
against parents if their child misses over five (5) unexcused days of school.
· Judges may invoke the
following consequences for violation of the Compulsory School Attendance Law.:
Ø $25 - $100 fine for each
offense after five (5) unexcused absences
Ø Imprisonment for up to 30
days for each offense
Ø Community Service
Ø Any combination of the
above
Ø Convictions for the
violation contributing to the deprivation of a minor carries a penalty of up to
12 months in jail and/or up to $1000 fine.
· If juvenile charges are
filed against the student, then the parent may be placed under a court order
and must abide by the rules set forth by the Juvenile Court Judge.
Students:
· Students must attend
Truancy Treatment Team meeting if referred to such a meeting.
· Students having excessive
absences shall be required to attend and successfully complete the intersession
school program and/or be retained.
· Students age 14 and older
may be denied their driver’s permit or license.
· Juvenile charges may be
filed against any student missing 10 or more days of school.
Principals, assistant
principals, and counselors may refer a student to either the attendance worker
or social worker anytime when, in their judgment, the intent of the Compulsory
Attendance Act is not being adhered to by a student. Referrals are required on students when they
accumulate five (5) unexcused absences or eight (8) excused absences or a
combination of ten (10) absences. This
referral to the attendance officer/social worker should include the attendance
sheet and the “Absent Again” form.
The
teacher must call the parents of any student that has three (3) days of
unexcused absences. On the fifth (5) unexcused absence and/or 8 excused
absences, or a combination of 10 absences, the teacher must notify the
principal, counselor, or designee along
with parent contact documentation. When
a student accumulates five (5) unexcused absences, the school will notify the
parent/guardian of the consequences and penalties of such absences and that
each subsequent absence shall constitute a separate offense in the court
proceeding. After two (2) reasonable
attempts to notify the parent/guardian, the school will send written notice via
certified mail with return receipt requested.
DENIAL OF
DRIVER’S PERMIT OR LICENSE
Once a student age 14 or older accumulates 7
unexcused absences, the school will send a letter via first-class mail
notifying the student that he/she has only 3 absences remaining before
violating the state’s attendance requirements pursuant to OC.G.A. 40-5-22
regarding the denial of driver’s permits and licenses. Once the student reaches 10 unexcused
absences, his/her name will be turned in to the State Department of Education
and his/her driver’s permit or license may be denied.
GENERAL GUIDELINES AND
PROCEDURES
a. Each individual classroom
teacher shall keep an accurate record of attendance of each student, including
a designation of excused or unexcused absences.
b. Students who have
emergencies necessitating their absence from school for a portion of the school
day must have been present for a majority of the school day in order to be
counted present for the day.
c. When there is reason for
a student to be excused from school for a portion of the school day, school
officials may release him/her only to his/her parent(s), to a person properly
identified with parental approval, to school authorities, or upon request by
letter or telephone from his/her parents.
(State
d. The classroom teacher’s
record of attendance shall serve as the official record in determining student
attendance for that class. If it is
determined that there may be some question about the record, office attendance
records will become official.
e. Approved field trips and
approved school functions shall not count as an absence.
f. Schools will report
student attendance through official progress reports and grade reports.
g. Students who are absent
from school for more than one-half of the school day shall not participate in
extracurricular or after school activities on that day.
h. Students must be in
attendance a minimum of one-half day to be counted present for the day.
i. A copy of this rule will
be sent home with each student within two (2) days of enrollment.
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES AND
PROCEDURES GRADES K-5
Students absent more than nine (9) days per
nine-weeks grading period may not receive grades for that period. The principal shall have discretion, in such
instances, to allow assignments to be made up and grades awarded.
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES GRADES 6-8
Upon the eleventh (11th) unexcused
absence annually, students must attend the Intersession opportunities
designated by the principal to receive credit for promotion. Failure to attend may result in retention. The cost for this opportunity shall be borne
by the parent/ guardian. The attendance worker shall receive a copy of all
correspondence and documentation regarding each student impacted by this Rule.
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES GRADES 9-12
Students may lose credit for any class in which
they exceed five (5) absences per semester.
Students impacted by this Rule must submit documentation (medical
excuses, court orders, subpoenas, etc.) within three (3) days of returning from
an absence. Principals are authorized to
consider “chronic illnesses” or “serious injury” prior to denying credit. The principal shall make the final decision
at the local level to award or deny credit.
Students losing credit may participate in the
extended year program (ESSO) through SPICE.
Students must make up “time for time missed.” Students will receive the grade awarded in
the regular program upon completing “time for time missed” at $15.00 per
hour. This fee shall be borne by the
student/parent/guardian.
Students will be recognized with perfect
attendance if they have been counted present each day and have no more than
three (3) tardies/early dismissals/late arrivals. Principals are encouraged to set standards
and guidelines for attendance awards for other students that demonstrate
excellent attendance. Attendance during intersession may not be counted toward
perfect attendance or other awards in lieu of attendance or tardies during the
regular school session.
Ten (10) or more
tardies/early dismissals/late arrivals may be considered excessive and are
subject to referral to the attendance worker and/or social worker.