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Attendance Facts

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Chronic Absenteeism Facts

  • Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read
  • Studies demonstrate students who are absent two or more days each school month struggle more academically than their classmates
  • Being late to school may lead to poor attendance
  • Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
  • Students need to know that being in school is their “job” and regular school attendance prepares them for success in their college and career paths
  • Young people who are not in school are often victims of crime or more likely to be in trouble with the law
  • Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school — and themselves

Definitions

  • “Tardy”: Teachers will take attendance at the beginning of class. If a student arrives after attendance has been taken, they will be marked as tardy.
  • “Unexcused Absence”: A student shall have an unexcused absence if the student is absent or is tardy for more than thirty (30) minutes without a valid excuse.
  • “Truant”: A student shall be classified as a truant if the student is absent from school without a valid excuse three (3) full days in one school year, or if the student is tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three (3) occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof. Any student who has once been reported as a truant and who is again absent from school without valid excuse one or more days, or tardy on one or more days, shall again be deemed a truant. Such students shall be reported to the Executive Director or designee.
  • “Habitual Truant”: A student shall be classified as a habitual truant if the student is reported for truancy three (3) or more times within the same school year. This generally occurs when the student is absent from school without a valid excuse for five (5) full days in one school year or if the student is tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on five (5) occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof.
  • “Chronic Truant”: A student shall be classified as a chronic truant if the student is absent from school without a valid excuse for ten (10) percent or more of the school days in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date.
  • “School Attendance Review Team (“SART”)”: The SART panel will be composed of a school administrator, at least one teacher, the special education teacher as applicable, and(optionally) a classified administrative employee. The SART panel will discuss the absence problem with the student’s parent/guardian to work on solutions, develop strategies, discuss appropriate support services for the student and student’s family, and establish a plan to resolve the attendance issue.