New Attendance Policy Based on the County-Wide Lenawee Attendance Policy
Goal
The goal of the school district is to link all students and families with the appropriate resources which will enable them to overcome barriers that interfere with regular attendance.
Absences
All absences must be communicated to the school guidance office by the parent of guardian on the day of the absence. Absences will either be counted or not counted, depending on the circumstances surrounding the absence. All absences will be counted, with the EXCEPTION of the following appropriately documented circumstances:
1) Funeral/visitation.
2) The day of a doctor's visit.
3) Hospitalization/homebound services.
4) School related activity including suspensions.
5) Court dates.
Counted absences may be recorded in blocks with approval for recurring health issues where a doctor's visit is made and note is on file. This will allow for several related absences to be blocked as one. Assignments will be allowed to be made up with the rule of one day per absence.
ALL COUNTED ABSENCES WILL BE HANDLED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER PER SEMESTER:
Step 1: After five counted absences, a letter will be mailed home to notify the parent.
Step 2: After seven absences, a phone call will be sent reminding parents about the importance of regular attendance.
Step 3: After nine absences, a call will be made, along with a referral to the Truancy Specialist. Direct parent communication will take place, and an action plan will be agreed upon to address the root cause of the absences. The school attendance team will be notified, and discussions to improve attendance will take place.
Step 4: After eleven absences, a notice of truancy will be mailed home, and contact will be made by the Truancy Specialist to the parent. A meeting will be requested with the parent at the school, with the appropriate members of the attendance team. An attendance agreement will be developed with clear expectations from all parties.
Step 5: If absences continue, a re-evaluation of the root cause of the absences will be examined and a corrective action plan pursued. Failure to cooperate and comply will result in a complaint on behalf of the school district against the parent/guardian in probate court.
1) Funeral/visitation.
2) The day of a doctor's visit.
3) Hospitalization/homebound services.
4) School related activity including suspensions.
5) Court dates.
Counted absences may be recorded in blocks with approval for recurring health issues where a doctor's visit is made and note is on file. This will allow for several related absences to be blocked as one. Assignments will be allowed to be made up with the rule of one day per absence.
ALL COUNTED ABSENCES WILL BE HANDLED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER PER SEMESTER:
Step 1: After five counted absences, a letter will be mailed home to notify the parent.
Step 2: After seven absences, a phone call will be sent reminding parents about the importance of regular attendance.
Step 3: After nine absences, a call will be made, along with a referral to the Truancy Specialist. Direct parent communication will take place, and an action plan will be agreed upon to address the root cause of the absences. The school attendance team will be notified, and discussions to improve attendance will take place.
Step 4: After eleven absences, a notice of truancy will be mailed home, and contact will be made by the Truancy Specialist to the parent. A meeting will be requested with the parent at the school, with the appropriate members of the attendance team. An attendance agreement will be developed with clear expectations from all parties.
Step 5: If absences continue, a re-evaluation of the root cause of the absences will be examined and a corrective action plan pursued. Failure to cooperate and comply will result in a complaint on behalf of the school district against the parent/guardian in probate court.
truancy
Any student whose absence is not communicated by the parent/guardian will be considered truant. Classwork for that day cannot be made up and no credit will be given for those daily assignments. An accumulation of three truant days will result in a referral to the Truancy Specialist.
parents
It is the goal of the school to maximize the amount of learning time for each student while they are in our care. Chronic absence, or missing 10% of the school time, is a substantial predictor of negative outcomes. We ask for your cooperation in helping to ensure that your child does not fall into this category. The following are things that you can do to be a partner in the education of your child.
1) Plan family vacations on weekends or around school breaks. A one week vacation causes approximately 35 hours of instruction that his/her classmates will receive. This is valuable learning that is difficult to make up for when the student returns. Please make every effort to schedule any doctor/dentist appointments after school hours.
2) Have a plan, as well as a back up plan, to get your child to school on time every day. Too often, a disruption in the morning or transportation issues cause children to miss entire days of school. Communicate to school officials if this is a problem so that appropriate resources can be sought to help correct the issue.
3) Only allow your child to stay home if they are too sick to come. Fever, vomiting, pink eye, or severe viral infections are cause to keep them home. Complaints of a headache or stomachache can be signs of anxiety and should be communicated to school officials.
4) Keep track of your child's attendance. Chronic absence is missing just two days per month, but over the course of a school year equates to about 126 hours of learning. Parents can use a calendar system at home to track attendance, or use the school's online program.
5) Communicate. Most attendance related issues can be solved fairly easily by utilizing the appropriate resources and staff. Talk to your school officials about what is causing attendance problems and remember, we are here to help. We will commit to eagerly work with you to provide the services needed to ensure your child has the opportunity to have excellent attendance.
1) Plan family vacations on weekends or around school breaks. A one week vacation causes approximately 35 hours of instruction that his/her classmates will receive. This is valuable learning that is difficult to make up for when the student returns. Please make every effort to schedule any doctor/dentist appointments after school hours.
2) Have a plan, as well as a back up plan, to get your child to school on time every day. Too often, a disruption in the morning or transportation issues cause children to miss entire days of school. Communicate to school officials if this is a problem so that appropriate resources can be sought to help correct the issue.
3) Only allow your child to stay home if they are too sick to come. Fever, vomiting, pink eye, or severe viral infections are cause to keep them home. Complaints of a headache or stomachache can be signs of anxiety and should be communicated to school officials.
4) Keep track of your child's attendance. Chronic absence is missing just two days per month, but over the course of a school year equates to about 126 hours of learning. Parents can use a calendar system at home to track attendance, or use the school's online program.
5) Communicate. Most attendance related issues can be solved fairly easily by utilizing the appropriate resources and staff. Talk to your school officials about what is causing attendance problems and remember, we are here to help. We will commit to eagerly work with you to provide the services needed to ensure your child has the opportunity to have excellent attendance.
General guidelines
Attendance is taken each morning and afternoon.
AM: A student is tardy if they arrive in homeroom between 8:05-9:30. A student is absent if they arrive between 9:30 and 11:30.
PM: A student is tardy if they arrive between 11:30 and 1:00. A student is marked absent for the afternoon if they arrive between 1:00 and 3:00.
Teachers will document students who consistently leave before 3:00.
Mrs. Grodi, attendance coordinator, can be reached at (517) 467-7046. Please contact her with absence information, or send an email/note to to the teacher. Notes and emails will be filed in the guidance office. For safety and health of staff/students, we require parents to call the nurse (or office) about communicable diseases.
AM: A student is tardy if they arrive in homeroom between 8:05-9:30. A student is absent if they arrive between 9:30 and 11:30.
PM: A student is tardy if they arrive between 11:30 and 1:00. A student is marked absent for the afternoon if they arrive between 1:00 and 3:00.
Teachers will document students who consistently leave before 3:00.
Mrs. Grodi, attendance coordinator, can be reached at (517) 467-7046. Please contact her with absence information, or send an email/note to to the teacher. Notes and emails will be filed in the guidance office. For safety and health of staff/students, we require parents to call the nurse (or office) about communicable diseases.