Attendance and Safety

The Board believes that significant learning is provided daily for all students in every district classroom. This educational opportunity is the result of in-class participation and quality classroom instruction, consequently, regular and punctual attendance is important for success in school.

Each student in the district is required to attend school daily as established by the school calendar. Unauthorized absences shall be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in accompanying procedures.

The following goals and guidelines have been developed to establish good attendance habits at an early age .

Goals

The goals of this policy shall be as follows:

1. To improve the attendance of elementary and secondary students.

2. To improve student achievement through improved attendance.

3. To develop attitudes and habits in students, parents/guardians, and the community that reinforce the value of school and good attendance.

4. To address potential attendance problems through early intervention.

Excused Absences

Excused absences are defined as any absence from school due to temporary illness or injury, and any other reason deemed acceptable by the school administrator. In general, prior notice of absence from the student’s parent or guardian is required and the school administrator may require verification, such as a physician’s statement, when appropriate.

The following shall be considered excused absences:

1. A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences shall be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours. Approval for a pre-arranged absence(s) may necessitate a parent conference.

2. A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental or emotional disability. Medical documentation may be required.

3. A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.

4. A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.

5. A student who is suspended or expelled.

The district may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources.

When a student has reached four excused absences from school in any month or ten excused absences during any school year: the school shall either require a meeting or other form of communication between the student’s parent/guardian and appropriate school personnel to review and evaluate the reasons for the student being habitually absent from school. A plan may be developed for the student with the goal of assisting the student to remain in school. When practicable, the student’s parent/guardian may participate with school personnel in the development of the plan.

If a student is in out-of-home placement (as that term is as defined by C.R.S. 22-32-138(1)(e), absences due to court appearances and participation in court-ordered activities shall be excused. The student’s assigned social worker shall verify the student’s absence was for a court appearance or court-ordered activity.

Unexcused Absences

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions. Additionally, an unexcused absence shall be recorded if a student leaves a school or leaves a class without permission of the teacher or school administrator. Each unexcused absence shall be entered on the student’s record. The parents/guardians of the student receiving an unexcused absence shall be notified orally or in writing by the district of the unexcused absence.

When the district is aware that criteria exist to designate a student as habitually truant, the district shall refer the students and his or her parent/guardian to the Weld County Judicial System, Youth and Family Connections and/or the Weld County District Attorney’s Juvenile Diversion Unit.

In accordance with law, the district may impose academic penalties which relate directly to classes missed while unexcused. Penalties may include a warning, school detention or in-school suspension. Academic penalties, out-of-school suspensions or expulsion shall not be imposed for any unexcused absence. The administration shall develop regulations to implement appropriate penalties. The school administration shall consider the correlation between course failure, truancy and a student dropping out of school in developing these regulations and shall implement research-based strategies to re-engage students with a high number of unexcused absences. Students and parents/guardians may petition the Board of Education for exceptions to this policy or the accompanying regulations provided that no exception shall be sustained if the student fails to abide by all requirements imposed by the Board as conditions for granting any such exception.

The maximum number of unexcused absences a student may incur before judicial proceedings are initiated to enforce compulsory attendance is 10 during any calendar year or school year. In general, all absences occurring after the 10th school day missed are unexcused.

Tardiness

Tardiness is defined as the appearance of a student without proper excuse after the scheduled time that a class begins. Because of the disruptive nature of tardiness and the detrimental effect upon the rights of the non-tardy student to uninterrupted learning, appropriate penalties shall be imposed for excessive tardiness. Parents/guardians shall be notified of all penalties regarding tardiness.

As with daily attendance, tardies can affect your child’s progress in school. Tardies are tracked by our office attendance secretary. Just like absences, an accumulation of tardies will result in a warning letter from the school and a conference with the school principal. Please help us out by making sure that your child is at school on time every day.

Any child who arrives after 10:00 a.m. is considered absent for the morning. A student who leaves before 2 pm and does not return will be considered absent for the afternoon.

Vacations

Personal vacations taken during regularly scheduled school sessions are discouraged. A “pre-arranged absence” request form must be filled out and signed by the building administrator prior to the planned event. You can obtain this form by contacting the school office. In general, all absences occurring after the 10th school day missed are unexcused. When a student is absent and classes continue, the student is missing valuable instruction. The student is responsible for making up all work during the absence time. If your child needs to be out of school for an extended period of time due to a vacation or special activity, please contact the office.

Early Student Checkout

We discourage checking students out of school during the regular instructional day. Please try and make appointments when the school will not be interrupted. Please bring your child back to school after appointments, if there is time left in the school day. A guardian or person authorized by the guardian must check out students at the front office. Students will be dismissed from class when the guardian or designee arrives at school to sign the student out.

If you need to get your child a message before the end of the school day, please call before 2:30. Messages will be taken throughout the morning, and delivered at 2:30. Calls/Messages after this time will not be delivered to your child in time.