Butte School District

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

3122P

Attendance Policy Grades K-12 

Grades K-6

K-6 Tardiness - All tardies which extend beyond 11 :00 am will be considered a .5 absence.

Grades K-8

Parental Release Absence (PR)

An absence is considered a parental release if a parent or legal guardian calls the attendance office no later than twenty-four (24) hours following the absence, or if a note is presented to attendance office personnel the school day following the absence. In cases where doubt occurs concerning the validity of an excuse, the administration may require verification.

Unexcused Absence (UA)

Any absence not covered under the excused absence guidelines above will be considered unexcused except an exempted absence.

Parental notification regarding unexcused absences is an essential element of this policy. Parents and school personnel will work together to offer appropriate assistance to students with attendance problems. Every effort will be made to notify parents of unexcused absences so they may initiate corrective measures in the home.

The school may assign detention or suspension for unexcused absences.

Exempted Absence

In order for an absence to be exempted, it must meet one of the following criteria:

1. School Approved Activity (SA)
   • a. Any school activity which has been pre-arranged and approved by the building principal or his/her designee is considered a "student activity absence" and is exempt.
2. Medical Exemptions (ME)
   • a.  A student who has a chronic illness or a serious medical condition may qualify for an exemption if he/she submits a statement signed by a physician, or other health care provider licensed in the State of Montana.
   • b. When exemptions are granted for medical reasons, the principal or designee may establish conditions for completion of the class(es).
3. Excused Absences (EA)
   • a. Student's personal illness, as documented by a health care provider, or injury
   • b. Death or severe illness of an immediate member of the family
   • c. Religious holiday
   • d. Court intervention

Parents should formally notify, in writing, the principal of any planned extended absence. Extended unexcused absences such as travel/vacation/personal plans are strongly discouraged due to the negative impact that such absences have on a child's education. It may not be possible to provide materials and assignments for extended absences.

Excessive Absences and Truancies

Once the teacher observes that the student's poor attendance and/or excessive tardiness is having an adverse effect on the student's progress or grade or is disruptive to the class, teachers are to make a parental contact to discuss the problem. After the teachers have made the parental contact, if the attendance or tardiness has not improved, the teachers should inform the appropriate administrator.

Students who miss nine (9) or more days of school per semester, including excused and unexcused absences, are considered chronically absent. Administrative discretion will be used when sending letters of notification to parents of students who have excessive absences. These letters will be copied to the School Resource Officer. A second letter may be sent if the student reaches twelve (12) or more absences. Copies of these letters may be forwarded to juvenile authorities and/or social service agencies. If attendance problems continue, the principal will notify the Student Resource Officer (i.e., Student Resource Officer/Butte Police Department). The Student Resource Officer may contact the parent and provide appropriate follow-up.

When appropriate, the Board shall, upon recommendation of the District Superintendent, consider expulsion for chronic truants.

Procedures for Butte High School

A copy of this Attendance Policy will be signed by both student and parent.

Philosophy

Butte High School is committed to the philosophy that every student should attend every class, every day.

Regular attendance and promptness are expected in all classes and are essential for success in school.

Leaming to participate in group discussions, developing an appreciation for the views and abilities of other students, and forming the habit of regular attendance are legitimate objectives for any course. Learning that is lost due to absence can never be adequately replaced.

Definitions

1. Parental Request: This type ofabsence has been pre-approved by a parent or guardian.
2. School-Approved Activity-Related Absences: These absences must be approved through the attendance office before the absence(s) occur(s). Students and parents need to carefully consider the number of days that will be missed when a student elects to take part in an activity. All work that is missed must be made up to gain the necessary skills taught in the course.
3. Unexcused Absence: This type of absence takes place without the pre-approval by a parent or guardian. It should be noted that if a student misses a class to remain in school to complete work for another class, the absence will be regarded as an unexcused absence, even if it has parental or guardian approval. Work missed during this period will be made up within a reasonable time to be determined by the teacher.
4. Truant: A student with multiple unexcused absences either consecutive periods or days that will lead to a citation by police according to Montana State Law enacted in July 1997 (M.C.A. 41-5-103).
5. Suspension: The exclusion of a student from classes for a specified period of time. If it becomes necessary to suspend a student from school, the work missed during the suspension can be made up within a reasonable time determined by the teacher.

Procedures for Butte High School

1. Absences and tardies will be marked by the teacher and recorded in the attendance office. Teacher records are the official record.
2. Parents must notify the school when they know their student will be missing class or study halls. Written notification must be received within twenty four (24) hours of the absence.
3. Once the teacher observes that the student's poor attendance and/or excessive tardiness is having an adverse effect on the student's progress or grade or is disruptive to the class, teachers are to make a parental phone or letter contact to express their concern and to discuss the problem.
4. Excluded from the absence count are the following types of absences:
   • a.     School-approved activity-related absences
   • b.     Medically-related absences with a doctor's verification
   • c.     Bereavement of an immediate family member
   • d.     Pre-approved by Butte High School administration or designee
5. After the teacher has made the parental contact, if the attendance or tardiness has not improved, the teacher should inform the appropriate dean, counselor and/or designee
6. Three (3) tardies in a class will be counted as an unexcused absence for the purpose of accreditation.
7. Because the teacher's grade book is the official record of attendance, teachers will notify the student, dean, counselor and/or designee when the student reaches his/her 10th absence. The counselor and/or designee will mail letter to parent/guardian upon notification by teachers and arrange for an attendance conference.
8. Letters notifying parents or guardians of student absenteeism will be sent home, computer-telephone calls will be made each day of an absence and concerns regarding attendance will be noted when report cards and comments are sent to the home. Parents or guardians are encouraged to call the attendance office if questions arise.
9. Once the dean, counselor and/or designee have been alerted by the teacher, he/she will then determine the appropriate measures to take. Such measures include but are not limited to the following:
   • a.      Conference with student
   • b.     Conference with student and parents
   • c.     Detention
   • d.     In-school suspension
   • f.       Suspension from school
   • g.      Referral to judicial system
10. At any time, the dean and/or designee will take the above disciplinary steps if a student is a blatant non-attendee, who loiters in the building on or near the campus when he/she should be in class.
11. Parents or guardians may request a conference with the building dean, counselor, administrator and/or designee to discuss decisions pertaining to the attendance policy. Such a request must be made within a period of one (1) week following a notification of a decision or a pending decision.
12. When appropriate, the Butte School District #1 Board shall, upon recommendation of the District Superintendent, consider expulsion for chronic truants.

 

Transactions with Emancipated and Majority Age Students The guidelines for working with students in the above categories are as follows:

1. All students, regardless of age, who are living at home or in foster care, are considered to be under the supervision of their parents or guardians and parents or guardians will be required to sign or verify all appropriate school documents.
2. If a student is eighteen (18) years of age or older and is not living at home, the student may be considered an adult and may be held responsible for his/her absences, signatures, and behavior.
3. If a student is under the age of eighteen (18) and is married, he/she may be considered emancipated and considered in the same manner as those eighteen (18) and over and not living at home.
4. A student who is under eighteen (18) years old, not married, and not living at home, may be considered emancipated and treated in the same manner as an eighteen (18) year old not living at home, if the parents verify the emancipation. Verification shall be a (notarized) statement signed by the parents, stating that the student is emancipated. This document must be on file at the school.

 

Adopted on: 10/18/04

Revised on: 06/22/10, 4/16/18