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 Law (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.
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 student's return to school. The absence will be recorded as unexcused if a note or telephone call is not received.
Excusable absences include, but are not limited to:
The following procedures should be followed by students who are absent so as to prevent academic difficulties:
Elementary Attendance Requirements
Any student arriving late or leaving early from school must be signed in or out by a parent/guardian in the office. If a student signs in after 8:10 a.m., they will be charged with a tardy. Parents of students who fail to attend school on a regular basis, or are absent three days in a row, will be contacted to find out the reason for the student’s absence. Students may be referred to outside agencies for failure to attend school regularly for non-compliance of Missouri Compulsory Attendance Law RSMo 167.031. STUDENTS ARE ALLOWED TO MISS 6 DAYS PER SEMESTER (PARTIAL ABSENCES WILL BE ACCUMULATED TO EQUAL FULL DAYS). If a student exceeds the allowable absences, they may be retained for the following school year. In accordance with the Dunklin County Juvenile Office, any student who has 5 or more unexcused absences or 10 or more absences total during the school year will be referred to juvenile authorities. When a student has been absent, he or she must bring a note from his or her parents or guardian explaining the absence. All students will be expected to complete all make-up work.
PARENT SICK NOTES-must state that a student was ill and must be signed and dated by the parent. Sick notes will count against your accumulated six days.
EXCUSED ABSENCES-will be granted for the following:
1. Doctor or dentists appointments-students must bring a note with date and time from the doctor’s office;
2. Funerals-student must bring a note from parent/guardian; and
3. Nurse referral-a student sent home for the remainder of the day.
4. Visits with a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty member of the military who has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or is immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, with permission of the superintendent or designee.
Out of School Suspension will not count as an excused absence, but will not count toward the six unexcused days per semester. Excused absences will not count toward the six days per semester.
STUDENTS HAVE 5 DAYS AFTER AN ABSENCE TO PRESENT DOCUMENTATION TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE (OR 5 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER SCHOOL IS OUT FOR ABSENCES OCCURRING DURING THE LAST MONTH OF SCHOOL).
Students must complete the makeup work within the same number of days they were absent. *** (Example: A student absent for three (3) consecutive days will have three consecutive school days during which to complete the missed assignments.)
***Test Day Absence --- If the student was made aware of the test prior to his/her absence, the student will be expected to take the test upon his/her return.
Parents may request student assignments when a prolonged absence is foreseen. The assignments will be gathered and may be picked up in the office within twenty-four (24) hours.
Students who are absent from school on the day of a social activity, athletic contest or any other school-sponsored activity will not be allowed to participate in or attend that activity during the day or evening, unless previous arrangements are made with the principal. Students who are also absent from school on a Friday or the day before a holiday will not be allowed to participate in or attend an activity that is schedule for the weekend or during the holiday period unless previous arrangements are made with the principal. A student must be in attendance the last five (5) periods of the day to participate in or attend an activity unless previous arrangements are made with the principal.
High School Attendance
When a student has been absent, he/she must bring a note from his/her parent or guardian explaining the absence. Students without a note will be considered truant and must bring a note the next day or will be assigned 8th hour. Full time students will be excused 3 full days (21 periods) per semester. Part time students will be prorated according to the amount of periods that the student is enrolled in. These notes must state the student was ill and be signed and dated by the parent of guardian. Students may accumulate 3 full days (21 periods) of unexcused absences, and 3 full days (21 periods) of excused absences each semester without penalty. When a student exceeds 3 full days (21 periods) of unexcused absences, no credit will be granted for that semester. The grade entered on the grade card and on the permanent record for that semester will be an F. If a student acquires more than 3 full days (21 periods) of unexcused absences, the parent/guardian may arrange a meeting through the principal’s office with the school administration to appeal the denial of academic credit. An appeal hearing for denial of academic credit may only be granted by the school board after going on attendance contract. Suspended periods are unexcused and will be treated as other unexcused periods, except that they cannot cause a student to go over the maximum number of periods. Students who violate the attendance policy, under special circumstances, may be able to have credit reinstated by completing the provisions of an attendance contract. If provisions of an attendance contract are met the following semester, credit can be reinstated for the previous semester. Parents must apply to the High School Principal for this contract. EXCUSED ABSENCES WILL BE GRANTED FOR: Doctor or dentist appointment-A student must bring a note from the doctor or dentist’s office stating the date and time of the visit. Excused absences will only be granted for the student’s personal visit and days that the doctor authorizes the student to remain at home. A student under a doctor’s care may miss as many days as the doctor deems necessary without penalty on the attendance policy. Parents should contact the principal if the student is going to be out for an extended period and request a ‘Homebound’ application so that the school can provide instructional assistance at home. Funeral-Student must bring a note from parent/guardian and will count toward three excused days. Sick note-Note must state that the student was ill and be signed and dated by parent/guardian and will count toward three excused days. Driver’s test-A student shall be excused for two half days, half day for permit, half-day for driver’s test. College or career day-Seniors can take one full day to apply for a job or make an application to a college, university, or technical school. Students may be excused for three full days (21 periods) per semester on sick and funeral notes. Anytime a student leaves school during the day because of illness, unless sent home by the nurse, the absence will be applied to the three full days (21 periods). After a student is excused for three full days (21 periods) on sick notes, any further absences will be unexcused. In the case that the school nurse sends a student home, those periods for the remainder of that day will be considered excused will not count against them. Administration reserves the right to determine whether an absence is excused or unexcused in special circumstances.
Students are responsible for gathering any and all make-up assignments, and must complete the work within the same number of days they were absent.*** (Example: A student absent for three (3) consecutive days will have three consecutive school days during which to gather and complete the missed assignments.)
***Test Day Absence --- If the student was made aware of the test prior to his/her absence, the student will be expected to take the test upon his/her return.
Parents may request student assignments when a prolonged absence is foreseen. The assignments will be gathered and may be picked up in the office within twenty-four (24) hours.
Students who are absent from school on the day of a social activity, athletic contest or any other school-sponsored activity will not be allowed to participate in that activity during the day or evening, unless previous arrangements are made with the principal. Students who are also absent from school on a Friday or the day before a holiday will not be allowed to participate in an activity that is schedule for the weekend or during the holiday period unless previous arrangements are made with the principal. A student must be in attendance the last five (5) periods of the day to participate in an activity unless previous arrangements are made with the principal.
Students who have a failing grade in a class will not be allowed to be dismissed from that class to attend a special event unless prior permission is received from the principal (ex. Athletic events, college presentations, class meetings, club meetings, etc…)
In accordance with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), any student who has 10 or more unexcused absences during the school year will be reported to DESE as truant.
STUDENTS HAVE 5 DAYS AFTER AN ABSENCE TO PRESENT A NOTE TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE FOR ATTENDANCE PURPOSES. (ALSO 5 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER SCHOOL IS OUT FOR ABSENCES INCURRED DURING THE LAST MONTH OF SCHOOL). STUDENTS MUST STILL BRING A NOTE THE DAY FOLLOWING AN ABSENCE FOR TRUANCY PURPOSES.
Summary:
Senior Attendance
It has been a long standing tradition in the Malden R-I School District for seniors to be excused from school attendance for the five (5) days prior to graduation. In order to qualify a senior must achieve 91% attendance including the days that will be missed the week prior to graduation and any school days following graduation. Students must miss no more than 8 days including excused and unexcused absences during the school year to be excused from school the five days prior to graduation. Seniors may qualify for a partial exemption if it is determined that he/she will qualify for the exemption by attending a partial week prior to graduation. Seniors who fail to meet the attendance requirement will not be permitted to walk at graduation. Administration will monitor attendance of seniors and inform them and their parents when they are close to becoming ineligible to walk due to attendance.