Otsego Elementary School Faculty Handbook - Half Hollow Hills

POLICY – SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Educational achievements demand consistent school attendance. The Board of
Education’s goal is to reduce unexcused absences, tardiness, and early departures, to
encourage regular attendance, to maintain an attendance record keeping system, to
identify patterns of unexcused absences, tardiness and early departures, and to
develop strategies to improve school attendance.
Notice:
In an effort to ensure that students, parents, teachers, and administrators are made
aware of and understand this policy, its purpose, procedures, and the consequences of
non-compliance, the following shall be implemented:
1. Parents shall receive a plain language summary of this policy by mail at the
beginning of the school year. Parents must sign and return a form indicating that
they have read and understand the policy.
2. A student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be notified by phone or by mail if a student
is absent, tardy, or leaves early from school. The student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)
shall be reminded of the components of the policy and intervention procedures.
3. A copy of this policy and any future modifications shall be provided to all faculty
and staff. New staff members will receive a copy upon their employment.
4. Upon request, a copy of this policy shall be made available to any member of the
community.
Excused and Unexcused Absences:
Excused absences, tardiness, and early departures are defined as absences, tardiness,
and early departures from class or school due to: illness of student, family medical
emergency, death in family, medical appointments, required court appearance, prior
approved college visitations, school sanctioned functions, religious observance, and
other administrative approved absences or such other reasons as may be approved by
administrators.
All other absences, tardiness, and early departures will be considered unexcused
absences.
Every absence, tardiness, and early departure must be accounted for. Parents are
responsible for notifying the school attendance office within 24 hours of the absence,
tardiness, or early departure and providing a written excuse upon the student’s return to
school.