Attendance policies
Every parent, guardian, or other person having custody or charge of any child age (5) through (17) years on or before September 15 of that year who resides, as definied by policy (Residence requirements). Within the district shall enroll and send the child to a district school with the following exceptions.
1. The child is enrolled in private or parochial school.
2. The child is being home-schooled and the conditions of policy (Home schooling) have been met.
3. The child will not be age 6 on or before Sept 15 of that particular year and the parent, guardian, or other person having custody or charge of the child elects not to have him/her attend kindergarten. A kindergarten wavier form prescribed by regulation of the Dept of Education must be signed and on file with the District Administrative office.
4.The child has recieved a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by the STate Board of Education.
5. The child is age 16 or above and is enrolled in a post- secondary vocational-technical instituion, a community college, or a two year or four year institution of higher education.
6. The child is age 16 or 17 and has met the requirements to enroll in an adult education program as defined by ACA.
Documentation of Medical Visit
When a student makes a visit to a medical clinic the parents should obtain a note from the doctor or dentist and send it to school to document the visit.
Other Absences
If a student is out for sickness and does not visit a doctor, the parents should notify the school by phone the day of the absence or with a note the first day back to school.
If a student has to miss school for reasons other than sickness the school should be notified in advance.
Excessive Absence
Act 473 of 1989 requires each school district to adopt a student attendance policy which defines excessive absences.
The district has adopted a policy which states that any days missed over 12 during a semester are excessive.
1. A student who is absent 24 days in a year may be denied promotion in accordance with the school attendance policy.* Extenuating circumstances will be considered, such as illness, funerals, accidents, etc. Absences due to illnesses, accidents, and deaths in the family are counted on a student's absentee record. Absences for extenuating circumstances must be documented by parents and on file in the elementary school office no later than the end of the student's 12th day of absence during the semester.
2. Notification of absences will be made to the parents when a child has missed 6 days by either telephone contact on the 6th day of the absences or by letter the following day.
3.Upon notifications of absences will be made to the parents, parents may request a meeting of Attendance Commitee to review absences.
4. NOtification will again be made to the parents by letter when the student has missed 12 days. Upon the notification to the parents, an Attendance Committee may meet to review absences. The parent will have the option of meeting with committee.
5. A student who is absent 12 days in a semester will be reported to the prosecuting attorney as prescribed by Arkansas Law. Parents may be subject to civial penalties for allowing students to have excessive absences. *refer back to #1
6.Those students who exceed 12 days or more absences and are being denied credit or promotion may appeal to the Attendance Committee composed of the principal, student's teachers and the counselor to determine whether credit will be allowed.
Other Attendance Policies
School related activities will not be considered as absences when the school is provided with offical documentation of attendance.
School suspension will be counted against a student's minimum days of attendance.
In-school isolation will not count as absences from school.
A student must be in attendance for 3 hours to be eligible to participate in any school function that day or night. The superintendent or principal may wave this rule in the event of extenuating circumstances.
12th days parents will be reported to the prosecuting attorney, OUCH! if not pay fines then can go to jail! jeez! Arkansas law sucks!
