Students are required to bring written documentation for absences within 5 days from the day they return from an absence. Parents who anticipate a student’s absence of more than five consecutive days should apply immediately for homebound instruction.

The principal shall approve or disapprove absences in excess of 10 (5 for semester classes).  A medical note or other documentation will be required after a student accumulates 10 absences (5 for semester) in order to assist the principal in making that decision.  

Absences with no documentation are automatically considered unlawful. 

Students who accumulate 3 consecutive unlawful absences or a total of 5 unlawful absences will be considered truant.  Parents/guardians and students (12 years and older) will be contacted to develop a written Attendance Intervention Plan.  Failure to participate and/or adhere to the plan will result in a referral to the District Attendance Office and/or Family Court.   

Truant:  A child from age five until age seventeen years meets the definition of a truant when the child has three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences. 

Habitual Truant:  A child, ages 12 to 17, who accumulates two or more additional unlawful absences after an intervention plan has been developed by the school, parent/guardian and the child. 

Chronic Truant:  A child, ages 12 to 17, who has been through the intervention process and who has reached the level of habitual truant, has been referred to Family Court and placed under a school attendance order, and continues to accumulate unlawful absences. 

Unexcused/Unlawful tardies are considered a violation of the CSAL (Compulsory School Attendance Law) in that instruction time is missed.  Unexcused tardies will be addressed in an Attendance Intervention Plan and may result in a referral to the District Attendance Office and/or Family Court.