Cloverleaf Elementary - Attendance Information

Bartow County Schools > Schools > Attendance Information

05.21.13

Attendance Information


	Attendance Policy

Attendance Procedures

In order to receive maximum benefit from the instructional activities, students are expected to be in school each day unless excused for legitimate reasons. Good attendance habits positively impact the learning process and carry over into the world of work. It is the position of the Bartow County Board of Education that every day at school is important and that no student should be absent except for extraordinary reasons.

In accordance with Georgia Board of Education Rule 160-5-1-.10, students may be temporarily excused from school who are:

(1) Personal illness or attendance in school endangers a student's health or the health of others.

(2) A serious illness or death in a student's immediate family necessitating absence from school.

(3) Observing religious holidays, necessitating absence from school.

(4) Serving as Pages of the General Assembly during the school year (Pages shall be credited as present by the school in which enrolled).

(5) Registering to vote or voting for a period not to exceed one day.

(6) when conditions render school attendance impossible or hazardous to the student's health or safety; or

(7) A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including preinduction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school.

(8) A student whose parent or legal guardian is in military service in the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard, and such parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted excused absences, up to a maximum of five school days per school year, for the day or days missed from school to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian prior to such parents or legal guardians deployment or during such parents or legal guardians leave. Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require a local school system to revise any policies relating to maximum number of excused and unexcused absences for any purposes. (OCGA § 20-2-692.1)

Any absences which are not permitted under the Compulsory School Attendance Law and by policies and regulations of the school system Board of Education will be considered unlawful (unexcused).

Very Important- Please Review Carefully!!!!
As of July 1, 2004, Georgia's Compulsory School Attendance Law §20-2-690.1 became much stricter in regard to truancy. The new law states that more than five (5) unexcused absences constitute truancy. The law also states that possible consequences for parent(s)/guardian(s) of student's whose unexcused absences exceed five (5) days may be:
- at least a $25 and not more than a $100 fine;

- up to 30 days of jail time;

- community service; or

- any combination of these penalties.

- Beginning the 2004-2005 school year, the school will make a reasonable attempt to contact the family each day a student is absent.

- The school will accept excuses from parents/guardians for 4 total days of absence each semester and will use the Georgia Board of Education Rules above to determine whether the absence is excused or unexcused.

- While a parent can write an excuse for 4 total days each semester, if the student is out more than 2 consecutive days a medical excuse will be required.

- If a student accrues two (2) unexcused absences for any reason, the school will attempt to reach the family by first class mail in addition to the routine absence contact.

- At four (4) unexcused absences, the school will mail a second notice to the family, requesting that a family member schedule a meeting with school staff to resolve the absence status of the student.

- If the student reaches five (5) unexcused absences, the family will receive a certified letter with official notification that any further unexcused absences will result in charges being filed as required by state law and local protocols.

- Certain unexcused educational absences may be permitted without the make-up work penalty, provided arrangements are made with the local school administration prior to the absence.

- Family vacations are not excused absences in accordance with state Georgia Board of Education Rules.

- If the student accumulates three unexcused tardies, three unexcused check outs or any combination of the two; it constitutes one unexcused absence for truancy purposes only. Unexcused tardies and check outs can be defined as convenience tardies or check outs.

- If a student wishes to obtain an employment certificate (Worker's Permit), the student must obtain a letter from the school principal indicating that they are enrolled in school full-time and has an attendance record in good standing for the academic year.

- If a student is younger than 18 years of age, a driver's permit or license can only be received if the student is enrolled in and not under suspension from school and has satisfied relevant attendance requirements for a period of one academic year prior to their application.

- If a student has more than ten school days of unexcused absences (cumulative) in any semester, the school system will submit a Certificate of Non-Compliance to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the student's license will be revoked by the DMV.

- If a student drops out of school without graduating and has remained out of school for ten consecutive days, the school system will submit a Certificate of Non-Compliance to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the student's license will be revoked by the DMV.

All students 10 years or older by September 1 and all parents will be asked to sign an Acknowledgement Form, at the end of this handbook, verifying that they have been given a copy of, and are aware of these Attendance Procedures.

If you have questions about the Attendance Procedures, contact one of your local building administrators or your child's classroom teacher.