Absence

• Excused- An absence is excused in the following instances:

  • Personal illness of the student with official written verification.
  • Official school-sponsored activity.
  • Court appearances with official written verification.
  • Medical/Dental appointments with official written verification. (Parents/ guardians are urged to schedule medical or dental appointments after school hours. When this is not possible, the appointment should be scheduled during a study hall or scheduled so that the student will not miss the same class(es) repeatedly.)
  • Death or serious illness in the immediate or extended family. (Official written verification may be required.)

An excused absence shall afford the student the privilege of making up all assignments and/or class activities as the teachers direct. Official written verification includes signed doctor, dentist, court or legal documents identifying the office and/or the name of the professional who provided the service.

• Parental Permission

  • Parental permission may be granted for any reason, including personal illness without written verification, provided the parent has contacted the attendance office, by note or phone call, prior to the day the absence occurs or no later than the day the student returns.
  • The student may not exceed five (5) parental permission absence days per year. If a student exceeds five (5) days of parental permission absence in any class for the year, all parental permission days thereafter are classified as unexcused parent permission (UP).
  • Parental permission shall afford the student the privilege of making up all assignments and/or class activities as the teacher directs.
  • Absences for parental permission shall not be granted in conflict with semester examination schedules.

• Unexcused

  • An unexcused absence shall be considered to be a willful absence (truant) from school if it is without the knowledge of the student’s parent/guardian.
  • Any other absence not considered excused in the two preceding sections will be counted as unexcused.
    • Parents/guardians shall be notified that a written excuse or prior telephone contact with the attendance office is required for a student’s absence and shall provide the school with a written excuse for each absence. In cases where written excuses are not submitted upon return to school, the student’s absence may be considered unexcused.
      • When a student has missed two (2) unexcused days of school during a semester, the parent/guardian will be notified by letter and/or a Parent Link phone call.
      • If a student is absent four (4) unexcused days during a semester, the parent/ guardian will be notified by letter and/or a Parent Link phone call.
  • Any student who is truant or has an unexcused absence forfeits the right to make up any work for credit.
  • Parents are responsible for requesting work during a suspension.
  • A student with four (4) or more unexcused absences per semester may be assigned consequences. Minimum-reprimand; Maximum – suspension.

Parent/Guardian Contact

• The parent/guardian should contact the school by 9:00 a.m. any day that a student will be absent. In addition to assisting the school with the attendance record, parent/guardian notification to the school is a security measure to verify the locations of all students.
• Upon the fourth unexcused absence in any semester a phone call will be made to the parent/guardian notifying him/her that due to the accumulation of four unexcused absences in any class, the student may be assigned Saturday School and/or a petition will be filed with the County Prosecuting Attorney or City Prosecuting Attorney to request appropriate legal action necessary to improve the student’s attendance. Such notification may lead to a penalty of up to $500 plus court costs in accordance with A.C.A. 6-18-222.
• Students with long-term medically documented illness or injury may be allowed to make up work and may be given assistance in obtaining credit for courses in which they are enrolled.

Legal Notification of Absence

• Upon notification by the school district that a student of mandatory school age is no longer attending school or has in excess of five (5) total unexcused absences in any class, the prosecuting attorney or city attorney will be notified that the student is no longer attending school. The school district shall notify the Department of Finance and Administration, and it shall suspend the student’s learner permit or driver’s license until the student re-enrolls and is successfully attending school.
• Students with unexcused absences in excess of five (5) total days in any one semester may be considered delinquent and appropriate notification to the prosecuting attorney or city attorney may be made subject to the directions of the superintendent or his designee.

Illness at School

• Parents should call the school nurse or designee for questions or concerns over their child’s health. The school nurse or designee can provide information about the child’s health if that child has previously reported any concerns or problems. Parents should allow the school nurse to share any necessary information about their child with the child’s teacher.
• The following procedure will be followed if you become ill at school:
  • The student should report his/her illness to the teacher.
  • A student becoming ill must report to the attendance office.
  • If a student has to stop by the restroom before coming to the attendance office, he/she must report to the attendance office as soon as possible or send someone to the office to notify the attendance office of his/her whereabouts.
  • Students are not to leave the building or stay in the restroom when they become sick.
  • Students who come to the attendance office may be sent home by the nurse or designee after a parent/guardian is contacted. A parent/guardian can give permission to exit or send the student back to class.
  • Failure to follow these procedures will result in the student being considered truant. (See Penalties for Truancy)