Student Attendance

Every parent, guardian, or other person having legal control of a child between the ages of 5 and 16, is required to send that child to school. Attendance standards are applicable to all students enrolled in the District. School attendance is mandated by state law and regulations of the State Board of Education. The Student Attendance Policy of the District Board establishes specific regulations related to attendance. Students are required by law to attend school 90% of the school year to be eligible for promotion.

Excused Absence
The District is responsible for reporting violations of the attendance laws of the State. The District may excuse
a child for necessary and legal absence, subject to
the provisions of the Delaware Code. (Title 14,
Chapter 27; Delaware Code can be found online at http://delcode.delaware.gov).  The following are considered necessary and legal excused absences and may not be used to file truancy charges:
 

• Illness of the student
• Medical diagnosis and/or treatment
• Death in the immediate family; funerals or other relatives or close friends, not to exceed one day if in the locality or three days if outside the state
• Contagious disease in the home of the child subject to regulations of the Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Social Services
• Legal business requiring the student's presence
• Suspension or expulsion from school
• Observance of religious holidays
• Approved college visits
• Authorized school-sponsored activities

Absences for other reasons are classified as "unexcused."

Schools may request a doctor’s note after 5 days of student absences. Parents are informed through a district letter regarding student absences at 3, 5 and 10 day intervals. Once notified, parents have up to three (3) days to provide proper documentation for these absences.  Any notes provided beyond the three (3) day period will not be accepted.

A student enrolled in grades K through 12 inclusive is considered truant if such a student has been absent from school without valid excuse, as defined in Rules and Regulations of the State Board of Education, for more than three (3) cumulative or consecutive school days during a given school year. Schools will take action regarding unexcused absences including, but not limited to, written communications, home visits, required parent/guardian conferences, and referral of the parent for prosecution. A parent/guardian who is determined to violate the State’s compulsory school attendance laws is subject to penalties as described by State law.

An excused absence from school or class is an absence for one of the reasons listed above and for which the required parental note of explanation has been presented on the first or second day of the student's return to school or class. Any notes provided beyond the three (3) day period will not be accepted.  After providing documentations of a valid excused absence, the student will be allowed to make up all work missed, to take tests which were missed, and to submit any assignments that were due during the absence. Following an excused absence from school or class, the time allowance for taking tests or turning in assignments shall be equal to the number of school days or number of class meetings missed due to the absence. A teacher may extend the time allowance for making up work missed if the specific circumstances of the situation merit such action. The responsibility for initiating make-up work and turning in assignments rests with the student. A student whose absence is unexcused shall receive no credit for assignments missed or tests given during the period of the unexcused absence unless otherwise permitted by the teacher.

Unexcused Absence
An unexcused absence from school or class is an absence:
 

1. Which is for a reason not listed as excused
2. About which the parent/guardian has not knowledge
3. For which the parental note of explanation was not provided on the student's first or second day or return to school following the absence

Tardiness to Class:  At the beginning of each term, the teacher shall define guidelines regarding lateness to class. When, in the judgment of the teacher, lateness becomes excessive, the student will be reported to an appropriate staff member for administrative action. Secondary students are considered late to class after the final bell. Lateness to class may have a detrimental effect on student learning.

Tardiness to School:  All students are expected to be punctual to school. A student who arrives to school more than halfway through the school day or leaves early before completing half of the school day  will be counted absent. Students who arrive at their first class assignment after the final bell of the first class assignment are tardy. A student who is late to school should present a written explanation for the tardiness on the first or second day following the tardiness. Students should recognize that a written explanation from home does not automatically cause the tardiness to be excused. Such reasons as car trouble, personal business, heavy traffic, home obligations, etc., while understandable, are not acceptable excuses and will be listed as unexcused. Reasons such as personal illness, medical appointments, and appearances in court will be considered as excused tardiness when verified by a note from doctor or court. Students who are absent for more than fifteen (15) minutes of a class will be referred to the principal/dean or designee for cutting class unless excused by proper authority.

Early Dismissal:  Student who request to be dismissed from school, and who will not complete a minimum of half a school day, will be considered absent.

Prearranged Absence:  A prearranged absence is a student's absence from school for one or more days to visit a college or university, other educational activities, or medical reason approved by the principal. The absence should be prearranged by writing to the principal, giving the full particulars of the absence. Approval for such absences should be sought, where practicable, at least one (1) week prior to the date on which the absence is to occur. Upon the development of a plan by student and teacher for making up the assignments to be missed, the plan should be submitted to the principal for review. Students who must leave the building due to an emergency or some other reason which did not permit a prearranged absence must receive approval from the principal or his/her designee. The student is then responsible for completing the sign-out procedure before leaving the building and must present the required parental note of explanation upon his/her return to school.

Extended Absences:  Students who will be out for an extended period of time and do not meet the criteria for excused absences are marked unexcused. Students may request school work for a period up to two weeks. Students who are excessively absent may have truancy charges filed against them/and/or their parent/guardian.