ATTENDANCE

Public education is a right available to all young people of school-age in Montgomery County.  It is provided at considerable expense to parents and other citizens of the county.  Student attendance is a cooperative effort among schools, parents, and students.  To achieve optimum learning, good attendance by students K-12 is crucial.  Tardies and check-outs are disruptive to the instructional time of the entire class.  Each parent or guardian is responsible for the student’s regular and punctual attendance.

Regular class attendance is considered by the Montgomery County School Board to be essential to the educational process and to the satisfactory completion of the requirements of any class and subject offered.  Regular school attendance also is directly related to the development of good habits, which are important in the world of work and in higher education.  A ninety-five percent (95%) or better attendance rate is the goal.

School personnel shall recognize their responsibilities to motivate students to attend school and to conduct the curriculum in such a manner as to provide for the individual needs of students.

It is the responsibility of the School Board, in certifying that a particular level of education has been successfully obtained, to insure that all students, at their respective levels, have met all of the requirements of each grade or subject area.  In addition to complying with the grading policy, to earn credit for any course, a student must not exceed eighteen (18) total absences per school year or nine (9) total absences for a semester course. 

Absences From School
Students are to bring a note(s) explaining his/her absences (including date, reason for absence, and parent signature) to the attendance table in the commons.

Tardies to School/Checking In
When it is necessary for a student to arrive late to school (after 7:45 a.m.) he/she will report to the attendance desk to sign in.  The student will be given an admit slip to class or appropriate detention depending on the situation.

Early Dismissal/Checking Out
When it is necessary for a student to leave school early, he/she will present a note from home to the attendance desk before school.  An early dismissal note will be issued which the student will show to his/her teacher at the departure time at which time, she/he must leave school grounds and must sign in if she/he returns.  The parent may be called to verify the written note. The student will keep the early dismissal slip in order to be admitted to class the next day.  If a student becomes ill during the school day or needs to check out for any reason, he/she shall use an agenda/hall pass from his/her teacher and report to the attendance desk.  The attendance secretary will contact the student's parent or guardian to make arrangements for the student to leave school.  Students cannot leave the grounds even when they are sick unless their dismissal has been approved by their parents through the Main Office before leaving.  Students leaving without proper authorization are considered to be skipping school and the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.  THE OFFICE MUST HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE PARENT/GUARDIAN BEFORE THE STUDENT LEAVES SCHOOL GROUNDS.  Students should be aware that school grounds do not extend to the sidewalk or beyond, on Grove Ave. or Patrick Henry Dr.  Under no circumstances will notes be accepted when a student has signed a parent's signature or after the student has left.

Returning to School
If a student returns to school on the same day that he/she has previously checked out (early dismissal), the student must report to the Main Office before returning to class.  He/She will be given an admit slip.  Work release and early release students are not to return to campus for the remainder of the day without previous approval from school authorities.

"Senior Skip Day" is not school sanctioned and the day will count as an absence.  Classroom instruction (which may include tests) will continue as usual.

Attendance Appeals
Absences, tardies, and/or early dismissals due to extenuating circumstances may be appealed to the Appeals Committee.  The 18-day absence limit is intended to cover normal illnesses, family trips, and/or occurrences, such as car trouble, missing the bus, oversleeping, or late rides.   (Students needing to schedule an attendance appeal should contact the appropriate assistant principal within 5 days of receipt of a Loss of Credit letter.)  Students are allowed only one meeting with the appeals committee per year.  If an appeal is granted, the student will sign a contract acknowledging the stipulations of the appeal.  Failure to follow the stipulations of the appeal will result in automatic loss of credit in all classes appealed and any additional classes that exceed 18 absences following the appeal.  Only one loss of credit letter will be sent to the student during the school year.  This letter will be sent when the attendance office becomes aware that the student has more than 18 absences in one or more classes.  Attendance office notification will not be made for any additional absences that exceed 18 following the sending of the original loss of credit letter.

Participation in After-School Activities
Students who are absent from school during the school day are not allowed to participate in after-school activities, including athletics, that particular day.  Students who arrive late to school or check out early shall be in attendance for at least four of their scheduled classes in order to participate in any extra-curricular or co-curricular activities that day, including all sports, games, practices, student activities, and cooperative education or work programs.

It is expected that parents will cooperate with school officials to remedy the student’s attendance problem.  When direct contact with the parent cannot be made, despite reasonable efforts, or when parents otherwise fail to cooperate in remedying the student’s attendance problem, the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee may seek immediate compliance with compulsory school attendance laws.  The Superintendent’s designee, with the knowledge and approval of the Superintendent, shall institute proceedings against any parent who fails to comply with the requirements of the law relating to compulsory attendance, the Superintendent’s designee shall document the school division’s compliance with procedures for enforcing compulsory attendance.