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Littleton Public Schools Policy |
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Policy Code JH Policy Name Student Absences Adoption August 15, 1989 Revised June 23, 2011 |
Students who desire to obtain the greatest benefit from public education recognize that regular attendance and participation in classes are essential. Regular contact of the students with one another in the classroom and their participation in well-planned instructional activities under the tutelage of competent teachers are vital. Frequent absence of students from regular classroom learning experiences disrupts the continuity of the instructional process. The benefits of regular classroom instruction are lost and cannot be entirely regained, even by extra after-school instruction. Consequently, many students who miss school frequently experience great difficulty in achieving the maximum benefits of schooling.
According to state law, it is the obligation of every parent to ensure that every child under his/her care and supervision receives adequate education and training and, if of compulsory attendance age, attends school. Parents must communicate their child’s absences in the manner and within the period of time specified by the school.
Continuity in the learning process and social adaptation is seriously disrupted by excessive absences. In most situations, the work missed cannot be made up adequately. Since the basic responsibility of the school is to support the requirements of the courses in which students are enrolled, excessive unexcused absences may result in a lower grade or failure even though written assignments, certain test results, and other schoolwork may appear to be satisfactory. Students and parents may petition the Board of Education for exceptions to this policy or any accompanying regulations, provided that no exception shall be sustained if the student fails to abide by all requirements imposed by the Board of Education as conditions for granting any such exception.
The Board of Education does not condone a “cut” system that allows students a specified number of absences without appropriate consequences.
Absences
The maximum number of hours of unexcused absences a student may incur before judicial proceedings to enforce compulsory attendance may be initiated is 24 accumulative clock hours during any calendar or school year.
Each school shall establish a system of monitoring individual absences and procedures for notifying parents regularly of student absences.
An excused absence is one that the parent, guardian, or legal custodian excuses and the appropriate administrator accepts in accordance with this policy.
An unexcused absence is one that the parent, guardian, or legal custodian excuses and the appropriate administrator does not accept, in accordance with this policy.
A truancy is an absence from school without the permission either of the student’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian, or of the teacher or administrator in charge.
Excused —The following absences shall be considered excused:
A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance before the absence. Administrators shall give prior approval only for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours. Requests for prior approval must be made at least three school days prior to the absence.
A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental, or emotional disability.
A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.
A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval of the administration.
A student who is suspended or expelled.
The District may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources.
If a student is in out-of-home placement (as that term is 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.
In all other cases not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions, the principal or designee shall decide whether absences are excused or unexcused. Absences not properly reported by the parent are unexcused, unless later excused by the principal or designee where circumstances warrant.
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, penalties shall be imposed for excessive tardiness. Parents/guardians shall be notified of all penalties imposed for tardiness. Each school shall develop procedures for handling tardiness.
Tardiness shall be excused when the parent or a school staff member communicates with the teacher and/or attendance office about the tardiness within the period of time specified by the school.
In an unavoidable situation, a student detained by another teacher or administrator shall not be considered tardy provided that the teacher or administrator gives the student a pass to enter the next class. Teachers shall honor passes presented in accordance with this policy. The provisions of this policy shall be applicable to all students in the District, including those above and below the age for compulsory attendance as required by law.
Make-up Work
Make-up work shall be provided for any class in which the student has an excused absence unless otherwise determined by the building administrator or unless the absence is due to the student’s expulsion from school. Each school shall establish procedures for completing make-up work, in accordance with this policy, and shall communicate those procedures to students and their parents. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate requests for make-up work, and teachers are required to provide such work upon request.
Excused or unexcused absence — Credit for work missed during excused or unexcused absences shall be given when the required work has been satisfactorily completed. Make-up work following an unexcused absence shall be allowed with the goal of providing the student with an opportunity to keep up with the class and an incentive to attend school. However, the teacher, in their discretion, may give only partial credit, as a consequence for an unexcused absence.
If students have extended excused absences, they will be given adequate time to complete work in order to be successful.
A suspended student shall be provided an opportunity to make up schoolwork during the suspension, so the student is able to reintegrate into the educational program of the District following the period of suspension. The District shall take into consideration the suspension when determining the amount of credit the student will receive for this make-up work.
Unless otherwise permitted by the building administrator, make-up work shall not be provided during a student’s expulsion. Rather, the District shall offer alternative education services to the expelled student in accordance with state law. The District shall determine the amount of credit the expelled student will receive for work completed during this time.
Attendance Officer
The Board of Education hereby designates the Superintendent or designee, and the school principals or their designees to act as attendance officers, who shall enforce the provisions of the compulsory attendance law, counsel with students and parents, investigate the causes of nonattendance, and report their findings to the Board of Education.
The provisions of the policy shall be applicable to all students in the District, including those above and below the age for compulsory attendance as required by law.
Legal Reference: C.R.S. 22-14-101 et seq.
C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(n)
C.R.S. 22-32-109.1 (2)(a)
C.R.S. 22-32-138 (6)
C.R.S. 22-33-101 et seq. (School Attendance Law of 1963)
C.R.S. 22-33-105 (3)(d)(111)
C.R.S. 22-33-203
1 CCR 301-67, Rule 2.01 (7)
1 CCR 303-78 Rules 1.00 et seq.
Cross Reference: ICA, School Year/School Calendar
JEA, Compulsory Attendance
JHB, Truancy
JK, Student Discipline
JKD/JKE, Suspension/Expulsion of Students