STUDENT ATTENDANCE
"Uniform Code of Discipline...."
We believe
that there is a direct correlation between academic achievement and
regular, prompt attendance. A student’s success in school and future
career activities depends on positive attendance habits. Regular and
consistent school attendance helps to develop responsibility and
self-discipline; it also prepares students for the world of work. The
attendance policy is in place to promote and encourage positive
attendance habits for each student.
The major
responsibility for acceptable attendance lies with the student and the
parents/guardians. Teachers, counselors, and administrators have the
responsibility to assist the student and work with parents/guardians
in meeting the goal of acceptable attendance.
For those
students under sixteen (16) years of age, nonattendance is a violation
of the law for both parents or guardian and student. For students
ages sixteen (16) and over, the parents or guardian is still
responsible and must notify the school official if a student is to be
absent. For a student age eighteen (18) or over, the school will
expect a parent, doctor, or other responsible adult to corroborate the
reasons for the student’s absence.
Students are
expected to be in school and on time to class every day. Students
should be fully aware that the interactions in the classroom
constitute a valid and critical part of the course work; they cannot
be duplicated. Students should be attentive and prepared with proper
materials to be actively involved in the class.
Parents/Guardians are expected to notify the school the day of an
absence or the following day of any absence or extenuating
circumstances regarding illness or personal and family problems that
may have an effect on attendance. Every effort should be made to
schedule routine appointments after school hours. Family vacations
should be planned during holidays outlined on the school calendar.
Parents/Guardians should discuss the importance of good attendance
with their student to avoid loss of credit due to violations of the
attendance policy.
Teachers are
expected to maintain accurate daily attendance/tardy records and
report them properly to the office. A teacher has the professional
responsibility to begin class on time and provide a consistent
classroom environment that is a challenging and rewarding educational
experience.
Counselors are
to help students recognize possible consequences of poor attendance
and to counsel students in making good decisions. Counselors are to
communicate with teachers and parents/guardians and work closely with
grade-level administrators to help detect problems early.
Administrators
are to coordinate the efforts of students, parents/guardians, teachers
and counselors when a student’s absences are adversely affecting
school success. Administrators are to enforce whatever steps and
procedures are necessary to improve the student’s attendance and
follow the guidelines of this policy and the BHAS’ Uniform Code of
Discipline and Students’ Rights and Responsibilities.
To promote this
philosophy and to assist students in developing lifelong, responsible
attendance patterns, the following procedures will be implemented:
PREARRANGED ABSENCES
A
prearranged absence is a student's absence from school for one or more
days to visit a college or university, or for other educational
activities approved by the principal. The absence should be
prearranged by writing the principal and giving the full particulars
of the absence. Approval for such absences should be sought, where
practical, at least one (1) week prior to the date on which the
absence is to occur. Upon the development of a plan by a student and
teacher for making up the assignments to be missed, the principal may
then define the absence as "excused."
EXEMPT ABSENCES
For an absence to be exempt, parents/guardians must call the
attendance office within 24 hours of the absence. Family trips or
long-term absences must be prearranged one week in advance of the
absence through the Extended Absence form. This will allow students to
receive assignments in advance of the absence.
Documentation
or other verification may be required to exempt a long-term absence.
Students will be allowed a minimum of one day per absence to make up
work. Students will be disciplined under the Uniform Code of
Discipline and Students’ Rights and Responsibilities for non-exempt
absences or skipping.
NON-EXEMPT
ABSENCES
Parents
are responsible for the attendance of their children under sixteen
(16) years of age and will be contacted by the school if their
children are violating the attendance law. If the student does not
return to school, a complaint shall be filed in the appropriate court
against the parents or guardian according to the provisions of the
Compulsory Attendance Law. (MCL 380.1588)
A non-exempt
absence from school or class is an absence:
- Which is for a reason not listed as "exempt";
- About which the parent has no knowledge; or
- For which there was no parental contact with the
principal or designee prior to or on the day of the absence to
discuss the nature of the absence not listed as excused.
* Parents may
appeal a non-exempt absence to the building principal / academy dean
for exempt absence status.
LOSS OF
CREDIT DUE TO ABSENCE
When a student accumulates five absences (exempt/non-exempt) in a
semester, the parent will receive a letter documenting the days
absent. The administrator will notify the student and parent when a
student accumulates ten total absences during the semester and is in
“no credit” status for a class.
The student
will remain in the class for the remainder of the semester and may
appeal the loss of credit to the administrator. If it is determined
that credit will be lost, the student will receive a grade of “N” if
passing or a grade of ”F” if failing. During the remainder of the
class, if a student continues to have attendance problems or proves
disruptive, the student will be disciplined in accordance with the
Uniform Code of Discipline and Students’ Rights and Responsibilities.
EXEMPT ABSENCE
Absences that do not count towards the ten-day absence level include:
- School
activities
- Serious
injury or long-term illness
- Verifiable
chronic illness
- Suspension
from school
- Other similar
compelling reasons as determined by the administrator
TARDY
POLICY
The
tardy policy will be enforced on a quarterly card-marking basis. A
student is tardy if he/she enters class after the designated time
class is to begin.
Students who
arrive within fifteen minutes after the start of the first class of
the day will be marked tardy to the class; students who arrive after
five minutes of the start of class for subsequent classes will be
marked tardy. Students who arrive later than fifteen minutes and do
not have a pass excusing them will receive an absence. Students who
have excessive tardiness or absences to first-hour class and are
approved student drivers may lose their driving privileges to school
for the remainder of the card-marking period.
The teacher for
each class will notify students and parent(s)/guardian(s) when he/she
has accumulated four tardies during the card marking period. The
teacher will assign Saturday detention and notify the administrator.
Any additional tardies in that class will result in a referral to the
administrator and possible additional
Saturday detentions. Failure to attend Saturday detention will be
interpreted as “Defiance of Authority”
with
the appropriate consequences applied as outlined in the Uniform Code
of Discipline and Students’ Rights and Responsibilities.
EXTENDED
ABSENCES
When a student is
not going to be in school for a period of time and he/she knows about
it ahead of time, he/she is required to get an Extended Absence form.
This form is available in the main office. The student must also have
a parent verify the absence by calling the main office. The student
takes this form to each of his/her teachers to get signatures and
homework assignments. The form is then returned to the attendance
office, recorded, and filed.
EXTRACURRICULAR
PARTICIPATION
A student must be in attendance for at least half of the school
day in order to participate in a sporting event or extra-curricular
performance that day. All hourly/block absences on the day of
participation must be excused prior to the activity in order for the
student to participate. This requirement may be waived only for
extraordinary circumstances by the administration. Students who are
frequently absent the day following an event or performance may be
prohibited from future participation by the administration.
APPEALS
Students may file a formal appeal of the attendance sanctions by
filing an Appeal Petition with the
school administrator.
MAKE UP WORK
Instructional materials or assignments given during the absence may be
obtained, at the initiation of the student. Following an absence from
school or class, the time allowance for requesting and completing the
assignments or instructional materials from the teacher shall be equal
to the number of school days or number of class meetings missed due to
the unexcused absence. A teacher may extend this time allowance if
the specific circumstances of the situation merit such action.
The student may make-up work and examinations missed for any periods
of suspension. Absences due to disciplinary suspensions should not be
counted as unexcused absences for
the purpose of course credit or other consequences.
