Code No. 501

Student Personnel

Attendance Requirements

The Davis County Community School District attendance policy is based on the fact that something important happens in class every day and that the activity or interaction between teacher and student can never be duplicated.

In order for the Davis County School staff to do the best job of educating the students entrusted to them, the students must be in regular attendance.  A successful educational program requires the cooperation of the parent, the student to attend regularly and the staff to be involved at all points in the process.  One of the most vital points is that of student attendance.  The following policy has been developed to encourage good attendance.

Parents are requested to call the school when their student will be absent.  If no call is received, the school will attempt to call the parents of the absent student.  If no contact is made between the home and the school during the absences, the student should bring a note to school the first day back signed by the parent and explaining the reason for the absence.

Types of Absences

When a student is absent from school, the administrator in charge has sole responsibility for assigning the type of category of that absence.  A parent’s note or phone call only indicates the parent’s knowledge of the absence.  School records list total absences that distinguish between unexcused and excused absences.

Excused Absence:  1.  Personal illness verified by a doctor’s statement.  2.  Professional appointments, accompanied by an office card indicating the time and the date of the appointment.  3.  Any other absence the administrator deems documented and reasonable, such as serious family crisis or funeral may be excused due to special circumstances.

Unexcused Absence:  1.  All absences that occur when a student leaves school without obtaining permission to leave.  2.  Any absence not listed under EXCUSED ABSENCE.  3.  Truancy, defined as absence from school without permission of the parent or the school.  Truancy will carry loss of credit, but the staff may require the student to do additional work or make up additional time.  In addition, detention or suspension from school may be administered.  Three tardies=one unexcused absence.

School Authorized Absence:  Any absence caused when the student attends a school authorized function or event.  The student will be responsible for completing all work missed during the absence prior to leaving.  School absences will not be included in the student’s record.

Excessive Absences:  The Davis County Community School Board has limited the number of days a student can be absent from school to the equivalent of twelve (12) unexcused days during a semester.

Notification of the Number of Days of Absences:  Parents or guardians will be notified when a student has missed the equivalent of 6 unexcused days of school.  Parents or guardians will be notified when a student has missed the equivalent of 10 unexcused days of school.  Finally, parents and guardians will be notified again when a student has missed the equivalent of 12 unexcused days of school.  In addition to these notifications, student attendance will be available when report cards are issued and at parent request. 

Davis County Community Attendance Policy Procedures

Step 1:  When a student has missed the equivalent of 6 unexcused days of school within a semester, the principal is responsible for notifying the parent by letter of the Davis County Attendance Policy.  In the letter, the parent is advised to obtain documentation justifying any past or future absences.

Step 2A:  When a student reaches 10 days of unexcused absence in a single semester, a truancy officer, which will be contacted, will check with the Department of Human Services records to determine whether the student’s family is receiving Family Investment Program (FIP) benefits.  If the student’s family is receiving FIP benefits, the official will notify DHS.  DHS is then responsible for an Attendance Cooperation Process meeting.

The purpose of the Attendance Cooperation Meeting is to determine the cause of the student’s nonattendance, get the parties to agree to solutions addressing the nonattendance and initiate referrals to any other services necessary.  This agreement is then written.  The agreement is to include all terms agreed to and future responsibilities of all parties.  All parties must sign the agreement.  If the parents do not participate in the Attendance Cooperation Meeting, if the parties do not enter into an agreement or if the parents violate a term of the agreement it is considered a violation of the process and initiates the next level.  If the agreement is violated, DHS is again notified by the school official and DHS then initiates the process whereby FIP benefits are reduced.

If the student’s family is not receiving FIP benefits, the school official will initiate a 10 day attendance meeting as described in step 2B.

Step 2B:  (for all students whose families are not receiving FIP benefits)  When the student reaches 10 days of unexcused absence in a single semester, the principal is responsible for scheduling a joint meeting with the child, the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian or actual custodian.  The Administrator will use the attendance procedures described below during this conference:

                  a)   Get the student and parent(s)/legal guardian involved in

                        dialogue on the causes for the lack of attendance.  Identify

                        specific issues that need to be addressed.

                  b)   Discuss what the family wants from the school.

                  c)   Determine the consequences of the absences on the

                        student’s future, and current problems caused by previous

                        absences.

                  d)   The family may be asked to sign a release form to allow the

                        School District, County Attorney, Juvenile Probation Officer,

                        and DHS and/or other pertinent agencies to exchange information

                        that may help provide the family assistance in addressing the

                        attendance problem.

                  e)   Help the family and the student develop an acceptable plan

                        to make attendance a priority for the remainder of the semester

                        and to correct current problems due to absences.  Place the plan in writing.

                  f)    Upon successful completion of a preliminary plan between student, family

                        and school, a commitment in writing will be made to follow the plan.

After the commitment is made the administrator will continue to monitor student attendance and will make student/family contacts regarding any further concerns they may have.

Step 3:  For FIP students and non FIP students, if attendance continues to be a problem, the student is of compulsory attendance age, and the student achieves 12 unexcused absences in a semester, a written summary of past actions is prepared and the matter is referred to the Davis County Attorney for prosecution or mediation.  If a mediator is appointed, the following steps will be taken:

                  a)   The mediator will contact the parent(s) or legal guardian and Attendance Officer

                        to arrange a conference.

                  b)   The mediator will review records established to date and shall attempt to

                        ascertain the cause of the child’s nonattendance; attempt to cause the

                        parent(s) or legal guardian and child to identify needed changes in the plan

                        developed with the principal that should result in acceptable school attendance;

                        and shall initiate referrals to any agencies or counseling that the mediator                                                        believes to be appropriate under the circumstances.  If the parent(s) or

                        legal guardian refuse to engage in mediation, the matter is re-directed to the

                         County Attorney.

                  c)   If he/she deems necessary, the Mediator will schedule a meeting with the

                        school principal, the child, the parent(s) or legal guardian and the Attendance

                        Officer to agree on the mediation agreement, which shall set forth the settlement

                        of the issues and future responsibilities of each party.  If the plan is violated bythe parent(s)

                        or legal guardian, or a plan agreeable to all parties cannot be

                        concluded, the matter will be referred back to the County Attorney.

                  d)   Parents may be billed for 50% of the mediator’s cost if their child is eligible for

                        free lunches; 75% of the costs if eligible for reduced lunches, and 100% of

                        the costs if they are not currently eligible for free or reduced lunches.

Additional details or rules implementing this policy, if needed, may also be found in the building level student handbooks.

Legal Reference:  IAC  12.3(6) (2003).

Approved:    December 21, 1998      

Reviewed:    November 15, 2004      

Revised:       August 9, 1999