5100-R, Student Attendance Regulation

A. Procedure for Dealing with Serious Attendance Problems for Grades K-8:

1. When a student’s absence from junior high or elementary school reaches twenty (20) days, his/her parents or guardians shall be notified by letter from the student’s (Hall) Principal. Upon notice of this letter, the counselor shall call parents/guardians and student to discuss this. (This does not preclude contact with the parents/guardians prior to the student’s absence reaching 20 days, but insures formal correspondence at that point). The school psychologist’s assistance should also be sought at this time in addition to that of the school physician and school nurse-teacher. At 25 days absent, the parent guardian will be asked to attend a meeting with the (Hall) Principal to discuss the absences. (Copies of all letters should be filed in the student’s cumulative record.)
2. If a student’s absence reaches 30 days, the problem will be considered to be chronic and the parents/guardians should be contacted by certified letter, return receipt by the Principal explaining the possible necessity of serious action being initiated.
3. If a student’s absence reaches 35 days, a case conference will be called by the Hall/Building Principal and a direction determined regarding possible action in Family Court.
4. When the student’s attendance exceeds 40 days, another case conference among administrators, teachers, guidance counselors and parents/guardians will take place to discuss possible retention.
5. If the decision is made to initiate a Person In Need of Supervision (PINS) petition or to make a referral to Child Protective Services (CPS) or Family Court, the Hall/Building Administrator will normally be expected to represent the district in the court proceedings.
6. If the court allows the student to remain in school and the attendance problem still continues, another case conference will be held to determine the most appropriate grade placement for the student.
7. If the court places the student on probation, the Hall/Building Principal will be expected to provide appropriate information, upon receipt of the parent’s/guardian’s written permission to the Family Court. This will occur after input is received from teachers, counselor, and other school personnel. A copy of any report to probation officers will be placed in the student’s cumulative record.
8. There should be some follow up from year to year. For example, if by June of one year the student has accumulated 25 days absence and then misses 10 days in September, some early follow up is warranted and should be recorded in the (Hall) Principal’s office.
9. Students who leave for extended vacations or visits to foreign countries will not be treated differently. If a parent takes a student out of school who is of compulsory school age and does not register the child in another school (or notify our district as per Board policy, #1741 that home instruction is being provided), the Hall/Building Principal will notify Child Protective Unit (447-7575) and Family Court.
   
   Reporting Schedule and Administrative Action for Shaker Junior High School

B. Procedure for Dealing with Serious Attendance Problems for Grades 9-12.

The process of education requires continuity of instruction that includes classroom participation, student interaction and well-planned instructional activity. In order for students to maximize their educational experience, consistent attendance is necessary. For this reason ongoing attendance as well as maintaining a passing grade is necessary in order to successfully complete a class. Excessive absences have a negative impact on learning and for this reason students are expected to be in school daily and attend all classes without exception.

Active participation in class is an integral part of student learning and it plays an important role in all courses taught at Shaker High School. Class participation shall be evaluated according to guidelines which will be clearly explained to students by teachers in the beginning of each course. Failure to satisfy these attendance regulations may result in a reduced grade because of the correlation between attendance and active learning and mastering course content.

A relationship exists between participation in class activities and mastery of course material. Students attending Shaker High School are expected to come to class prepared to discuss assigned material. Failure to attend class thwarts this objective and will require intervention.

1. When a student is identified as being chronically absent interventions will be put into place as deemed necessary. These interventions will involve the school, parent/guardian, and the student working together to help maximize academic success.
   
   
2. Examples of interventions that may be utilized are: (the list is not all inclusive)
   
   a. Phone calls home or electronic correspondence to parent/guardians
   b. Attendance letters sent to students and parent/guardians (both through regular and registered mail if necessary)
   c. Meeting with the student to review reasons for the absences and to determine strategies to improve attendance
   d. Meeting with parent/guardian
   e. Development of a written plan with students and parents/guardians to help students make up missing work
   f. Referral to the Child Study Team
   g. Referral to Student Assistance Counselor
   h. Referral to school psychologist
   i. Counseling
   j. File PINS diversion
   k. Referral to CPS for educational neglect
   l. Referral to special programs offered at Shaker High School
   m. Use of a teacher assistant for academic remediation due to absences
   
   
3. Interventions for chronically absent students will be reviewed regularly.
   
   
4. In order to obtain the minimum passing grade for a course, students must demonstrate sufficient comprehension of the course material to justify promotion to a subsequent course of study. To obtain a higher grade, students must demonstrate by examination, class participation and the completion of assigned work that they have sufficient mastery of course material to satisfy established departmental and/or state standards.
   
   
5. Students are accountable for all missed work. It is expected that work will be completed in a reasonable time determined by the teacher or department supervisors.
   
   
6. Students attending summer school receive one participation point for each day of active class participation, up to 30 points. In addition to the prescribed academic expectations and course requirements, students are required to have a minimum of 27 participation points in order to receive a grade in a summer school course. Students failing to attend class for any reason, including suspension, will not receive a participation point for that class period. Students missing a portion of an instructional period will lose half a participation point for up to 15 minutes of absence and a full participation point for absences of 15 minutes or more.

Reporting Schedule and Administrative Action for Shaker High School

An absence must be coded as an Excused Absence or an Unexcused Absence

• Excused Absences
  • The High School must receive a written excuse signed by a parent/legal guardian for the absence within ten (10) school days of return from the absence.
  • Excused absences totaling more than 5 consecutive days must be documented with a doctor’s note.
  • Students who are absent more than 10 consecutive days may be placed on Home‐Bound Instruction as per Board of Education Policy #4328.
    • Requires medical documentation and administrative approval
    • Home Instruction excused and unexcused absences will be tracked.
      
      
• Unexcused Absences
  • An absence will be deemed unexcused if the attendance office does not receive a written excuse signed by a parent/legal guardian within ten (10) school days of the absence.
  • Absences of more than five (5) consecutive days that are not coupled with a doctor’s note will be unexcused.
  • Students will be allowed the opportunity to complete missed assignments/assessments from unexcused absences.
    • If the unexcused absence is deemed a truancy or a class cut, missed assignments/assessments for that day will be graded as a zero.

Benchmark Interventions for Total Excused and Unexcused Absences

Interventions will include but may not be limited to:

• Full Year Course:
  • 10 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home explaining the importance of attendance and offering a meeting in school.
  • 20 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home requesting a meeting in school.
    • Student moved from prep or study hall to a supervised/restricted study hall.
  • 30 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home offering a meeting in school.
  • 40, 50, 60+ Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home offering a meeting in school.
    
    
• Semester Course:
  • 5 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home explaining the importance of attendance and offering a meeting in school.
  • 10 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home requesting a meeting in school.
    • Student moved from prep or study hall to a supervised/restricted study hall.
  • 15 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home offering a meeting in school.
  • 20, 25, 30+ Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home offering a meeting in school.
    
    
• PE Class (Half‐Year Course):
  • 4 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home explaining the importance of attendance and offering a meeting in school.
  • 8 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home requesting a meeting in school.
    • Student moved from prep or study hall to a supervised/restricted study hall.
      • Student must demonstrate completion of make‐up classes.
  • 12 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home offering a meeting in school.
  • 16, 20, 24+ Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home offering a meeting in school.
    
    
• Lifeguarding Course:
  • 5 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home explaining the importance of attendance and offering a meeting in school.
  • 10 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home requesting a meeting in school.
    • Student moved from prep or study hall to a supervised/restricted study hall.
  • 15 Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home offering a meeting in school.
  • 20, 25, 30+ Total Absences (Excused + Unexcused) – Letter sent home offering a meeting in school.

Additional Interventions:

• Principal’s conference with student
• Referral for counseling
• Submission to Child Study Team (CST) for possible services
• Placement in Academic Support Program
• Mandatory After‐School Support

Benchmark Interventions for Total Unexcused Absences:

These Interventions are in addition to the benchmark interventions that these students are receiving for Excused + Unexcused absences:

• Full Year Course:
  • 15 Total Absences (Unexcused) – Call to CPS/PINS for compulsory‐aged students.
  • 30 Total Absences (Unexcused) – A letter will be sent home requesting a meeting. A referral to the Child Study Team (CST) or Pupil Services Team (PST) will be made based on whether the student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
    
    
• Semester Course:
  • 10 Total Absences (Unexcused) – Call to CPS/PINS for compulsory‐aged students. Meeting with student to develop a plan of remediation.
  • 15 Total Absences (Unexcused) – A letter will be sent home requesting a meeting. A referral to the Child Study Team (CST) or Pupil Services Team (PST) will be made based on whether the student has an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
    
    
• PE Class:
  • 8 Total Absences (Unexcused) – Call to CPS/PINS for compulsory‐aged students. Meeting with student to develop a plan of remediation.
    
    
• Lifeguarding Course:
  • 10 Total Absences (Unexcused) – Call to CPS/PINS for compulsory‐aged students. Meeting with student to develop a plan of remediation.

Note: Prior regulation, Procedures for Dealing with Serious Attendance Problems, 5112.7(a), (b)

November 24, 1987
June 23, 1997
Amended: June 17, 2002
Amended: May 24, 2004
Adopted: August 25, 2014