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.).  In addition, the regulation takes into account the attendance standard of 90% or better for each student required by the Missouri Schools Improvement Program.

In case of absence, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify the school that you are aware of the child’s absence.  It is best to call the morning of the absence.  This in no way constitutes an excused or unexcused absence.  Please see below for the definition.

Excusable Absences

Excusable absences include, but are not limited to:

1. Doctor or Dental appointment with a written excuse from the medical professional
2. Days of religious observance
3. Death in the family
4. An absence preapproved by the building principal
5. Complying with a subpoena to testify in a criminal proceeding, attending a criminal proceeding, or participating in the preparation for a criminal proceeding

*Documentation must be turned into the office within 48 hours (2 days) after the student returns to school.  It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure written notice is provided to the office.  Any absence that does not meet one of the above 4 requirements will be considered an unexcused absence.

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, if foreseen.
2. Students will be given one day for each day absent to return work for full credit (example, student missed 2 days of school so he or she would have 2 days after returning to school to complete and turn in all of the assignments). All assignments after this time will be considered late and the teacher’s classroom policy for late work will apply.
3. All classroom work (to include tests) shall be completed as indicated by the individual classroom teacher.

Unexcused Absences

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.   This may require a parent meeting or contact with an outside agency, including law enforcement.

Excessive Absences

Elementary Students

A student shall be allowed six (6) unexcused days per semester.  Excessive absences, excused or unexcused, have a detrimental effect upon academic progress.  Excessive absences are one factor considered in promotion/retention decisions. Students who accumulate in excess of six (6) unexcused days will require a parent meeting with the Attendance Committee or principal, or contact with an outside agency, including law enforcement.

Junior High and High School Students

Junior High - A student shall be allowed six (6) unexcused days per semester.  Excessive absences, excused or unexcused, have a detrimental effect upon academic progress.  Excessive absences are one factor considered in promotion/retention decisions.  Students who accumulate in excess of six (6) unexcused days will require a parent meeting with the Attendance Committee or principal, or contact with an outside agency, including law enforcement.

High School – 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) unexcused 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.)  Students who accumulate in excess of six (6) unexcused days will require a parent meeting with the Attendance Committee or principal, or contact with an outside agency, including law enforcement.

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 trips, 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 received the necessary instructions and assignments.  Students will only be given 1 day for each day missed to complete the assignments with full credit.

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

Attendance Committee  - First step to appeal    

Parents will be given a chance to speak with the Attendance Committee to appeal the decision of lost credit or retention.  The Attendance Committee will be made up of district teachers, the counselor, and the principal, who will be responsible for hearing reasons and making decisions concerning excessive absences.  The Committee will meet at the end of the semester, and the student’s parents and the student will be invited to come and present an appeal.  The Committee will consider the following when making a decision:  written proof of absences from medical professionals, past attendance records, unusual circumstances, and extreme hardship. 

Board of Education – Final step to appeal

Parents may appeal the decision of the Attendance Committee to the Marquand-Zion Board of Education.  The appeal must be filed in writing to the Superintendent of Schools within ten (10) days of notification of the Attendance Committee’s decision.