• 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.