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 seventeen unless their education is provided by other acceptable means or otherwise excusable under the law.

The Board of Education believes that regular attendance is essential to achieving success in school. Education is a total process based upon continual communication and shared responsibilities among parents, students, teachers and school.  As students mature and progress through the educational system, they should increasingly assume responsibility for regular attendance.  However, parents have a legal and moral responsibility to require regular attendance at school. Our goal for our district is for every student to attend school with a 96% attendance rate.  

Elementary Attendance Policy:

The principal and counselor will run attendance reports monthly and will follow the steps below.  The attendance will be calculated based on total hours/minutes for the entire school year and the total hours/minutes missed from school.  All absences are used when calculating a student’s attendance.  In addition, all counseling services are excused as long as a note is provided within one week of counseling. 

96% or below - Parents will be contacted through a written note.  Special health issues will be considered with a doctor’s note.  

93% or below  - Parents will be contacted through a written note.  Special health issues will be considered with a doctor’s note.

90% or below - Parents will be contacted through a written note/phone call.  Special health issues will be considered with a doctor’s note.  The Juvenile Officer will be contacted.   

Regular attendance is extremely important. Every student is expected to attend each day of school except when illness or some other condition beyond his/her control prevents attendance. A note or phone call from parents is required. Students are expected to make up any work missed. Students that are habitually absent from school without valid reason may be referred to the juvenile office and a hotline report will be made.  Students absent from school without the knowledge or consent of parents or guardians, or students leaving school during any session without the consent of the principal, shall be considered truants.  

• • Makeup work for credit will be allowed for any absence which falls within the above guidelines.
  • Written or oral communication (a phone call between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM is recommended) from parents or guardians will be required for all absences. 
  • When it is felt a student may have a valid reason for missing more than the allowable number of hours, the administration may grant excused absences in circumstances which are not otherwise covered in this policy. 
  • 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.
  • Students with perfect attendance shall become eligible for special recognition at the end of the school year. 

JH/HS Attendance Policy:

Upon returning to school after a period of being absent, students are expected to report to the office as soon as they enter the building. A note or phone call from parents is required. Students are expected to see their teachers and get all make-up work missed. 

Students who are habitually absent, without valid reason, may be suspended from school. Students absent from school without the knowledge or consent of parents or guardians, or students leaving school during any session without the consent of the principal, shall be considered truant.  

1. 1. Any student who comes to class within ten minutes of the starting bell will be considered tardy for that hour. Anytime thereafter, the student will be considered absent from the class.
   2. Student absences shall be limited to five (5) excused days per semester for such incidents as, but not limited to, sickness of the student or sickness or death of a member of the student's family, and medical appointments, etc. The unused portion will not be carried into the second semester. Special health issues will be considered with a doctor’s note. The Juvenile Office may be contacted in truancy situations.
   3. School sponsored events and days of student in-school suspension (ISS) are not counted as days absent for purposes of this policy.
   4. Makeup work for credit will be allowed for any absence which falls within the above guidelines, but makeup credit will not be allowed for absences beyond the 5-day limit unless stated on an IEP.
   5. Written or oral communication (a phone call between 8:00 am and 9:00 am is recommended) from parents or guardians will be required for all absences.
   6. When it is felt a student may have a valid reason for missing more than the allowable number of days, the administration may grant excused absences in circumstances which are not otherwise covered in this policy.  For example, excused absences are granted for counseling sessions and mental health hospitalizations. 
   7. Student attendance letters will be mailed home at least twice a month. The Juvenile Office will be notified in the case of excessive absences.
   8. 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.
   9. 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.
   10. Students with perfect attendance shall become eligible for special recognition.