Carthage R-9 | R 2310 Student Attendance

The Board of Education has established the following rules and regulations regarding attendance, absences and excuses for students. These rules and regulations are intended to comply with Missouri Compulsory Attendance Law (167.031 RSMo.) which establishes compulsory attendance for all children between the ages of seven and sixteen unless their education is provided by other acceptable means or otherwise excusable under the law.

Excusable Absences

In case of absence, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify the school. If the school is not notified on the day of absence, a note from the parent/guardian will be required on the first day of the student's return to school. The absence will be recorded as unexcused if a note or telephone call is not received.

Excusable absences include, but are not limited to:

Illness of the student (Doctor's statement may be required to support such absences).
Days of religious observance.
Death in the family.
Family emergencies which necessitate absence from school. The school must be notified in advance when such absences are foreseen.

The following procedures should be followed by students who are absent so as to prevent academic difficulties:

The student shall obtain assignments from appropriate staff members. Assignments shall be obtained in advance if the absence is foreseen.
All assigned work shall be submitted upon returning to school.
All classroom work (to include tests) shall be completed as indicated by the individual classroom teacher.

Excessive Absences

Kindergarten - 8th Grade Students

Excessive absences, excused or unexcused, have a detrimental effect on academic progress and may be one factor considered in promotion/retention decisions. At 15 days of absences, or if deemed necessary for other reasons, juvenile intervention may be requested by school administration.

Attendance Excused and Unexcused
Daily phone calls will be made when students are absent Attendance for the purpose of sending letters will be checked weekly Refer to juvenile when absences reach the number of days deemed excessive by the board policy
5th Violation	Formal letter will be sent home
10th Violation	Formal letter will be sent home
15th Violation	Formal letter will be sent home; juvenile intervention may be requested

Tardies Excused and Unexcused
Attendance for purpose of sending letters will be checked weekly Refer to juvenile when tardies reach the number of days deemed excessive by the board policy
5th Violation	Formal letter will be sent home
10th Violation	Formal letter will be sent home
15th Violation	Formal letter will be sent home; juvenile intervention may be requested

High School Students

A student shall be allowed a maximum of six (6) unexcused absences from any class during a semester. Students who accumulate in excess of six (6) days in any class are subject to loss of credit for that class. (Days of student suspension are not counted as days absent for purposes of this policy.)

When unusual or extreme circumstances occur, exceptions to this stated policy will be made only by administrative discretion on an individual basis. Any absence not accounted for will be considered an unexcused absence.

Any absence from class as a result of a school-sanctioned activity is not recorded as an absence for purposes of this policy. Example: field trip, athletic event, student activity, etc. It is the student's responsibility to remind all of his/her teachers following a school-sanctioned absence to use the attendance correction form if he/she was reported absent inadvertently.

A student is expected to make up work as a result of class periods missed. It shall be the student's responsibility to meet with the teacher and receive the necessary instructions and assignments.

Each principal may have written policies which further detail procedures for making up work, reporting absence, etc.

Appeal

High school students who are denied credit under this Regulation are entitled to utilize the due process procedures available for student suspensions. These provisions are contained in Regulation 2662 - Suspension