Absence Policy

It is the belief of the Glasgow Elementary School that activities taking place in the classroom are a vital part of the learning process.  A day lost from class can never be recaptured.  The dialogue that has taken place between teacher and students cannot be duplicated.  Make-up work creates a hardship on students and teachers.  Absence from class must be only for the most serious reasons.

Elementary (Grades Preschool – 5) 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. To ensure the safe whereabouts of each child, the elementary secretary or nurse may call parents who have not contacted the school. 

Excusable absences include, but are not limited to:

1. Illness of the student (Doctor's statement may be required to support such absences).
2. Days of religious observance.
3. Death in the family.
4. Family emergencies which necessitate absence from school. The school must be notified in advance when such absences are foreseen.
5. Other situations approved by the school principal in advance.

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

1. The student shall obtain assignments from appropriate staff members.  Assignments shall be obtained in advance if the absence is foreseen. Parents may call the school office (338-2012) to request that make-up work be sent to the office.
2. All assigned work shall be submitted upon returning to school.
3. All classroom work (to include tests) shall be completed as indicated by the individual classroom teacher.  It is the students’ responsibility to complete the missed work.

A student who complies with a subpoena to testify in a criminal proceeding, attends a criminal proceeding, or who participates in the preparation for a criminal proceeding will not be disciplined for violation of the District’s attendance policy. Similarly, such student’s parents/guardians will not be in violation of the state’s truancy schedule §167.061.

Monitoring Attendance

Attendance patterns for all students will be monitored.  Absences which are not clearly excusable will be investigated by the principal and/or staff, and appropriate action will be taken:

1. After a student has been absent for four (4) days in a single quarter of school, regardless of the reason, a letter will automatically be sent to the parents.
2. Upon the 8^th day of absence of a child in a semester, the parent will receive a letter and a conference will be arranged if the parent/guardian or school desires.  Notification and response will be recorded.
3. Upon the 12^th day of absence in a semester, parents will be notified by letter and advised that a medical excuse will be required for each absence thereafter.  A conference will be arranged with the parent/guardian and the school.  Notification and response will be recorded.
   1. For Preschool Students:  Upon the 12^th day of absence in a semester without a doctor’s excuse, the parents of the preschool student will be notified that any future absence will result in the loss of the privilege to continue attending preschool if there is a preschool waiting list.
   2. Upon the 13^th absence without a doctor’s excuse, the child will be removed from the class and placed at the bottom of the preschool waiting list. The principal will notify the parent by phone or letter if a child is removed from the preschool class. 
4. When a student misses twelve (12) or more school days per semester without a medical excuse, s/he may be in danger of not being promoted.  The principal will send an “Excessive Absence or Truancy Report” by certified mail to the parents and follow through to notify the proper authorities.
5. A student may lose special privileges such as assemblies, programs, field trips, play days, or other events if excessive absences have resulted in incomplete work or failing grades. 
6. If a student has a chronic health condition that causes them to be absent frequently, a statement from the child’s doctor documenting the child’s medical condition and the need for absenteeism must be sent to the school.  A conference will be set up with parents and school officials to arrange for an individual accommodation plan for the child. 

Attendance at School Events

Students must attend school the day of an event which s/he intends to participate.  If students are not present at least ½ of the day, s/he will not be allowed to attend the activity unless excused by the principal.

Perfect Attendance

A child may be absent no more than ½ day during the school year to be recognized as having outstanding attendance for the school year.  A child must be present all day, all year to be recognized as having perfect attendance.

Elementary Late Arrivals/Tardy

A child will be considered tardy to school if he/she is not in their classroom when the morning bell rings.  Upon the 3^rd tardy in a quarter the principal will make contact with a parent or guardian via a phone call or letter advising the family of disciplinary action should a 4^th  tardy occur during the quarter.  Upon the 4^th tardy in a quarter, the student will be required to serve after school detention until 4:00 p.m. in the school office.  Parents will be responsible for transporting the child home.  If a student is tardy more than 4 times, additional detention time will be given.

High School (Grades 6-12) Attendance

State laws specify that all students shall attend school until they are 17 years of age.  Contact should be made with the school to explain any student's absence.

Driver’s Test – Students desiring to be absent from school to go take the driver’s test must present a request from home prior to leaving school to take the test.  Failure to do so will result in the absence being unexcused and subject to disciplinary action.  Excused absences will only be given for actual time needed to go take the test and return (generally 2-3 periods).  Additional time missed will be considered unexcused.

Students must attend school the day of an event which he or she intends to participate.  If a student is not present ½ of the day, s/he will not be allowed to attend the activity.  Special permission may be granted in some cases.

Tardy to Class – A student may be considered tardy to class if he or she is not in their assigned seat before the last bell rings.  The third time a student is tardy to the same class during a quarter will result in a detention for the student.  If a student is tardy more than three (3) times, additional detention time will be given and possible other disciplinary action taken.  Students will not be counted as tardy if they have a student pass issued by the principal’s office or from the teacher of their previous class who might have held them too long.

Attendance Policy

To be an applicant for graduation from the Glasgow School District students must attend school in grades 9-12 and earn at minimum, 24 units of credit. 

A student may not miss any class more than four (4) times per quarter.  If a student misses any class more than four (4) times, he/she will receive an F (59%) for the class for the quarter.  The grade will be denoted as FA on the report card.  There is an opportunity to “recover” failing grades due to attendance by making improvements in attendance next quarter.  A student attendance contract will be sent with report cards each quarter which will outline the provisions to “recover” failing grades due to attendance.  *If an attendance F is earned during the 4th quarter, the student is responsible for making up the missed time during the first two weeks following the last day of school.

The semester grade will be figured using 59% (for the quarter when absences are more than allowed) averaged with the previous quarter’s grade.  The student shall not be promoted to the next higher class and/or will not attain credit applicable for graduation if the absences are more than allowed.

Exceptions to this rule may be accepted by the Board when:

1.  The student has a written note from a doctor specifically excusing them from school for each day of absence.
2. Students will be allowed excused college visits. Students must register through the guidance office ahead of time and must provide documentation of the visit upon return from college.
3. Any provision of state law or state regulation prevails.

It is important to communicate any absences to the high school principal's office.  Information pertaining to absences can be communicated via a note, email, or a phone call from the parents.   Attendance is the responsibility of each student and not the school officials.

The rules of attendance apply to all students in grades 6-12.

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.