1. Early dismissals during the last 30 minutes of the day are very disruptive and will be counted as a half day absence, unless the student has a doctor’s appointment. If a doctor’s excuse is not on file, the student will be listed as “unexcused absence.”
2. Chronic tardiness or absence shall be dealt with initially by phone contact from the classroom teacher to the absent student’s parent(s) or guardian. If the teacher is unable to reach the parent or guardian by phone after reasonable effort has been made, a form shall be sent home with a copy going to the principal’s office, advising that attempts have been made to reach them by phone and requesting the parent/guardian to contact the teacher. If this does not result in some degree of improvement, the principal shall mail a letter to the offending parent(s) or guardian stating the problem and reminding them of their legal responsibility concerning their child’s attendance in school.
- Chronic tardiness means: Being late for school more than twice in a week or more than five times in a grading period.
- Chronic absence means: Unexcused absence for 4 or more days in a grading period is a serious problem. If the problem continues, the principal’s designee may be asked to help solve the problem. If a student is absent five or more consecutive days (or has five days unexcused absence) in a semester, the parent or guardian must come to the school office with the student before the student will be allowed to return to school.
- A “habitual” truant is any child of school age who is absent without legitimate excuses for five or more consecutive school days, seven or more school days in one month or 15 or more school days in a school year.
- A “chronic” truant is any child of school age who is absent without legitimate excuse for seven or more consecutive school days, 10 or more school days in one month or 20 or more school days in a school year.
The parent is required to have the child attend school immediately after notification. If the parent fails to get the child to attend school, the school may send notice requiring the child’s parent to attend a parental education program.
Regarding “habitual” truants, Imagine Great Western Academy will develop a plan for the parent and child. If the parent fails to follow the plan, Imagine Great Western Academy may file a complaint in juvenile court jointly against the child and the parent. The complaint must state that the child is an “unruly child” by virtue of being a “habitual truant” and that the child’s parent violated the School Attendance Law.
Regarding “chronic” truants, if the parent fails to get the child to school and the child is considered a “chronic” truant, Imagine Great Western Academy must file a complaint in the juvenile court jointly against the child and the parent. The complaint must state that the child is a “delinquent child” by virtue of being a “chronic” truant, and that the parent has violated the School Attendance Law.