ATTENDANCE POLICY
PHILOSOPHY -- Few factors have greater influence upon student success than regular attendance. Daily participation in a demanding and meaningful education program is vital to success. We believe that in order to fully benefit from the educational opportunities provided, students must be in school. Responsibility for attendance is shared by students, parents, guardians, teachers and the administration. Parents and legal guardians have primary responsibility.
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS: Every student is required to be in school and in each class. State law stipulates that every parent or guardian having control of any minor between ages 6 and 18 years of age shall assure that such minor shall attend school. Exceptions must meet requirements of the law. (Section 53A-11-101 Utah Code) Each student is provided fifteen (15) parent-excused absences per school year. If a student's non-attendance reaches six (6) days for the school year, the school will notify the parent or guardian by mail. If the student's non-attendance reaches ten (10) days for the school year, the school will mail a second notification. At this time the student and parent will be required to attend a conference with the principal or his or her designee. If a student's non-attendance reaches thirteen (13) days for the school year, a final notification will be sent to the parent via certified mail. If the student's non-attendance reaches 16 days for the school year, the student's name and attendance records will be reported in writing to the Juvenile Court for non-attendance.
DEFINITIONS OF ABSENCES:
Doctor or Agency-Excused Absences: Any written excuse for absence signed by a medical professional, judge, human services worker, or other agency officially excusing a student's non-attendance. Notes excusing students should include the date(s) and duration of time the student is excused from attending school. Note: these days do not count as part of the fifteen days of parent-excused absences.
Parent-Excused Absences: Fifteen (15) days wherein a parent or guardian has discretion to excuse his/her student for illness, family emergency or other reasons deemed necessary by the parent/guardian. Students who are more than one-half hour late for class are considered absent from class for that period (secondary) or half-day (elementary) and require a parent/guardian excuse.
Pre-Arranged Absences: (Please see In the Case of Extenuating Family Plans under Attendance Control Policies.)
School-Excused Absences: An absence from class wherein a student is participating in another school activity. Students who participate in school extra-curricular activities during the school day are required to gain school approval to miss class. Note: school-excused absences do not count toward a student's non-attendance because the student is present and participating in an activity provided by the school.
Tardy: Student is less than one-half hour late for class. During the school day, extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control may result in a student being tardy to class. To excuse the tardy the student may receive a pass or a written excuse signed by a staff member which should then be taken to the Attendance Office for an admit to the next class. A tardy of this nature will not be recorded on the student's records. Teachers are not required to provide make-up work for unexcused tardiness.
Truancy: Any absence wherein the parent/guardian or the school cannot account for the whereabouts of a student.
ATTENDANCE CONTROL POLICIES
To Excuse an Absence: The parent/guardian is asked to phone his/her student's school prior to 9:00 a.m. the day of the absence. To assure each student's safety, if the school does not receive a call by 9:00 a.m., the attendance clerk shall attempt to contact the parent to verify the student's absence. If the parent has no telephone access, the student is required to bring a note from the parent excusing the absence upon re-entry to school. Notes should be dated, signed, and a reason listed by the parent or guardian. Upon return to school, it is the student's responsibility (or the parent/guardian's responsibility for kindergarten through third grades) to request missing work and due dates from the teacher(s).
In the Case of Truancy: A student who is absent without a parent/guardian or school excuse is considered truant. Should a student be found truant, the student shall be issued a truancy citation. Utah State Code requires that school districts submit the student's name to Juvenile Court should a student receive more than two truancy citations.
In the Case of Tardiness: Tardiness is a form of non-attendance. Elementary students, grades K-6, are allowed twenty (20) tardies per year. Secondary students, grades 7-12, are allowed twenty (20) tardies per trimester. The school shall contact the parent/guardian should ten (10) tardies occur. Should a student exceed the total number of allowed tardies, the student's name shall be submitted to Juvenile Court as a non-attendance issue.
In the Case of Extenuating Family Plans: A parent/guadian may gain permission from the principal for a "pre-arranged absence" for his/her student. Pre-arranged absences may be approved for educational trips or extenuating family need. The parent/guardian may obtain a pre-arranged absence request form from the school office. Note: the parent/guardian must gain approval for pre-arranged absences from the building principal. Individual teaches do not have the authority to approve a pre-arranged absence. Up to 10 days is allowed for pre-arranged absence.