- Gompers
- District Attendance Policy
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Daily Attendance Expectations
There is a strong relationship between regular school attendance and academic performance.
Students who are in class and on time daily have the best chance for school success!
Student
• Strive to come to school every day, on time.
• Attend scheduled classes daily.
• Come prepared to learn and engage in class.
• Talk to your teachers.
• Ask for help.
• Stay informed.
• Be a positive peer.
• Know that you are our number one priority.
Parent/Guardian
• Strive to get your student(s) to school every day, on time
• Understand DPSCD attendance expectations
• Encourage your student(s) to come ready to learn. Check to see if they have the
materials, they need to be successful.
• Ask questions and learn about your student(s)’s school.
• Stay informed about what is happening with your student(s) and their school
experience.
• Attend important events at your student(s)'s school such as Parent Teacher
Conferences.
• Check-in regularly to stay updated on your student(s)’s progress.
• Know you are our partner in your student(s) success.
Schools’ Commitments
• Greet and welcome students to the building.
• Ensure there are procedures and protocols for all attendance needs.
• Maintain and be consistent about discipline procedures so student behavior is
managed fairly.
• Reinforce the attendance policy regularly and apply it consistently.
• Support teachers with resources for struggling students with attendance issues.
• Provide engaging clubs, teams, and activities that appeal to multiple student
interests.
• Establish a viable team to respond to attendance needs and to be proactive about
data trends.
• Review and share data for timely, evidence-based decision-making.
Districts’ Commitments
• Promote an environment that fosters learning and development.
• Ensure that all schools have established attendance procedures and protocols.
• Enforce fair and consistent discipline procedures so student behavior is managed
equitably.
• Emphasize a culture of communication for maximizing student attendance.
• Review data and communicate with schools to support strategy and action
development.
• Guide and train teams to respond to attendance needs in a proactive manner.
Attendance Defined
School Attendance: Students are to be counted in attendance if they are present for a
minimum of two (2) hours of the school day or if they are engaged in a school-approved
educational activity, which constitutes a part of the instructional program for the student.
Class Attendance: Students are to be counted in attendance if they are physically present
in class for at least half of the class period, have been excused by the teacher on a class-related assignment,
or have been requested by a member of the school support staff for an
approved school activity.
Tardiness: A student is considered tardy if they are not present the moment the school bell
rings for their assigned class. If a student is not present when attendance is taken but is
present later in the school day, that student must be considered in attendance, but tardy,
and the absence should be changed. A student who is tardy should never remain on record
as being absent.
Chronic Absenteeism: Defined as missing 10% or more of the available school days, at
any point in the school year, for any reason including excused absences, unexcused
absences, and out-of-school suspensions.
Attendance is required of all enrolled students during the days and hours that school is in
session.
Students who are absent for any reason are required to provide a written excuse by a parent
or legal guardian. The Superintendent or designee(s) shall report violations of the law
regarding student attendance for students under the age of eighteen (18) to the proper
internal and external authorities.
Excused Absences
Brief illness, appointments, and family business are considered absences for purposes of
meeting attendance policy requirements. An absence will be considered an “excused
absence” if a parent/guardian contacts the school and provides a reason for the absence.
The absence, as well as the reason for the absence, will then be documented in our
attendance system. Excused absences may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Personal illness of the student (medical evidence may be required by the principal
for absences exceeding five (5) consecutive days). The written statement must
include all days the student has been absent from school. If a student is continually
sick and repeatedly absent from school due to a specific medical condition, they
must be under the supervision of a healthcare provider in order to receive excused
absences from school;
• Medically verified chronic illnesses – a statement signed by a physician;
• Family emergency;
• Recovery from accident;
• Legally documented court subpoena, a required court appearance, or placement in
detention at a juvenile center in which the student continues their education;
• Professional appointments;
• Death in the immediate family;
• Observation or celebration of a religious holiday or service when it is mandated for
all members of a faith that such a holiday or service should be observed, or for prearranged
religious instruction (documentation of the religious affiliation of the student
may be required by school officials);
• Academic activity or school-sponsored field trip directly related to the instructional
outcomes of one (1) or more courses;
• Approved student activities such as Student Council, National Honor Society, class
meetings, and academic/athletic competitions;
• A short-term family commitment with prior notification of the absence being provided
to the school administrator;
• Visits to incarcerated parent/guardian;
• College visits;
• Out-of-school suspension from school; and/or
• Other individual student absences beyond the control of the parent or student, as
determined and approved by the principal (requires support documentation).
Long-term absenteeism, including excused absences, may lead to the failure of a
course, the necessity to repeat a course, the possibility of retention, and/or the filing
of a truancy petition.
Attendance Intervention and Support
The School Attendance Team addresses the attendance needs of a school. The
The Attendance Team implements intervention strategies, incentives, and student-centric
support to promote daily school attendance. Other school-based teams are responsible for
engaging in school-wide attendance progress monitoring to ensure that all students receive
the necessary support and interventions they need to attend school daily. DPSCD requires
all schools to hold attendance team meetings on a weekly basis.
Parents/guardians will receive notification from the DPSCD upon each absence. If students
are struggling to attend school on a regular basis, school-based Attendance Agents will
partner with the family to provide support and intervention.