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 within 24 hours of the absence.

Excusable absences include, but are not limited to:

1. Illness of the student (Doctor's statement may be required to support such absences).
2. Medical appointments (Doctor's statement will be required to support such absences).
3. Days of religious observance.
4. Serious Illness (Doctor's statement will be required to support such absences).
5. Death in the family.
6. Family emergencies which necessitate absence from school. The school must be notified in advance when such absences are foreseen.
7. Visits from a parent or guardian on active military duty who is on leave from or will be immediately deployed or immediately returned with notification and approval of the principal.

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.

2. Students will have one day per each day absent to complete and submit work.
3. . All classroom work (to include tests) shall be completed as indicated by the individual classroom teacher.

Unexcused Absences

Absences for reasons other than the categories of excusable reasons, or that do not have the proper

documentation for an excused absence as determined by the principal will be considered unexcused.

An absence will be recorded as unexcused if a note or telephone call is not received within 24 hours of the absence. An AMI absence will also be recorded as an unexcused absence.

Excessive Absences

A student shall be allowed fifteen (15) days per school year (107.75 hours). Excessive absences,

excused or unexcused, have a detrimental effect on academic progress and may be one factor considered in promotion/retention decisions.

Students who attend school regularly and punctually generally have better academic success and enjoy

school. Attendance letters will be sent home after the following accumulated absences per school year:

1st)  25 hours

2nd) 50 hours

3rd) 75 hours

4^th) 100 hours

• Students will have a maximum of 107.75 hours (15 days) of absences per academic school year.

• If more than 107.75 hours’ worth of absences is accumulated for the school year, the student may be referred to the Cass County Juvenile Attendance Court. The attendance concerns may also be reported to the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline. To obtain more information about the Education Court, you may contact the school officer the Cass County Juvenile Office at cass.juvofficer.email@courts.mo.gov

• After 107.75 hours, a retention hearing may be held to determine the nature of the absences and

their effect on the student's ability to keep up with his/her classes.

Absences due to school-related student activities do not count toward the 107.75-hour limit.

Tardies

Students arriving at school after 8:05 will be counted as tardy and must be accompanied by an adult and checked in at the office upon their late arrival. 

Leaving Early

All students leaving school prior to 3:35 must be checked out at the office by an adult or risk being considered truant.

AMI-Day Expectations

The district has 5 AMI days that can be used instead of snow days, AMI days do not have to be made

up on a regular school day. This year, we will use AMI days before using snow days for weather

cancellations. During an AMI weather day, students will be learning virtually or completing worksheet

packets from home. On AMI days, attendance will be determined by the completion of lessons and

activities in the following manner:

• Completion of written lessons and activities turned in on the next in-person

attendance day.

• Electronic submission of completed lessons and activities on the day of AMI or on the next

day of in-person attendance.

*For students who do not complete the lessons in the timeframe and manner listed above, students

will be marked as absent (unexcused).