The Board of Education has established the following rules and regulations regarding attendance, absences, and excuses for students. These rules and regulations are intended to comply with Missouri Compulsory Attendance Laws (167.031 RSMo.) which establishes compulsory attendance for all children between the ages of seven and sixteen unless their education is provided by other acceptable means or otherwise excusable under the law.

Excessive Absences

Elementary Students

A student shall not exceed seven absences per semester, excused or unexcused. Excessive absences have a detrimental effect upon academic progress and may be one factor considered in promotion/retention decisions. In addition, students may be required to stay after school or attend summer school based upon excessive absences.

High School Students

Any student who accumulates more than seven absences in any class period in a semester, including excused and unexcused absences (not including school sponsored absences), will not receive credit for that class for the semester until the time is made up. A grade of “N,” which signifies that no credit has yet been given, will be reported on the transcript. Time will be made up hour for hour in instructional time before or after school, during Saturday school, or summer school until the amount of time made up is equal to the amount of time over the allotted  seven allowed absences per class period. Absences due to “out-of-school suspension” will not count towards the seven absences.

The following reasons would be exceptions to the seven day total rule:

1. Illness or appointment, of student or dependent of student, verified by a statement signed by a medical doctor. Said statement shall bear specific date(s) and time(s) of absence.
2. Dental appointments verified by a statement signed by a dentist. Said statement shall bear the date(s) and time(s) of the appointment.
3. Death in the immediate family (father, mother, brother, sister, grandparents, legal guardian)
4. Mandatory court appearance as documented by appropriate court officials in writing.
5. Emergency circumstances beyond the student’s control
6. Days of religious observance.

Any absence from a class as a result of a school sanctioned activity is not recorded as an absence for the purpose of this policy. Example: field trip, athletic event, student activity, etc. it is the student’s responsibility to remind all of his/her teachers following a school sanctioned absence to use the attendance correction form if he/she was reported absent inadvertently. A student is expected to make up work as result of class periods missed. It shall be the student’s responsibility to meet with the teacher and receive the necessary instructions and assignments.

Any exceptions to the items cited above shall be approved by the Board of Education.

Each principal may have written policies which further detailed procedures for making up work, reporting absences, meeting with parents, interventions, etc.

Excusable Absences

In case of absence, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify the school. If the school is not notified on the day of absence, a note from the parent/guardian will be required on the first day of the students return to school. The absence will be recorded as unexcused if a note or telephone call is not received and/or it does not meet the criteria of exceptions. Excused absences do count towards the allowed seven (7) absences per semester unless they meet the exceptions rules stated previously in the student attendance policy.

Unexcused Absences

Attendance patterns for all students will be monitored. Absences which are not clearly excusable will be investigated by the principal and/or staff, and appropriate action will be taken:

1. After student has been absent for three (3) consecutive days, it is the building designee’s responsibility to contact the parent/guardian by telephone or letter in order to inquire about the reason for the student’s absence.
2. If the designee is unable to contact the parent/guardian within three (3) days or the parent/guardian does not give a reasonable explanation for the absence within three (3) days, a registered letter will be sent to the parent/guardian requesting a conference within a week.
3. If the parent/guardian does not contact the principal within a week of receipt of the registered letter, the building principal will make a referral to the proper legal authorities.
4. The building designee shall also notify the office of the superintendent in writing of the excessive absence and continue to update the superintendent on the situation.
5. Further procedures will be determined by building principles for students who have excessive absences based upon the individual student's needs.

The following procedures should be followed by students who are absent so as to prevent academic difficulties:

1. The student shall obtain assignments from appropriate staff members. Assignment shall be obtained in advance if the absence is foreseen.
2. All assigned work shall be submitted upon returning to school. A minimum of one day per day missed will be given to students to turn in missing work.
3. All classroom work (to include tests) shall be completed as indicated by the individual classroom teacher.

Appeal

High school students who were denied credit under this regulation are entitled to utilize the due process procedures available for student suspensions. These provisions are contained in regulation 2662 - Suspension