Student Attendance Policy No. 522 

The Board of Trustees hereby establishes the following attendance policy for students of School District 271:
1. In accordance with Policy 522, “Student Rights and Responsibilities,” the right to attend schools I fundamental and purposeful. Along with this right is the responsibility to attend school faithfully and regularly. This responsibility rest with the student and with the parent or guardian, and is basic in order to meeting the instructional goals of District 271 and the Compulsory School Attendance Laws of the Sate of Idaho.
2. The instruction program of the District is based upon regular daily instruction and interaction between the student and teacher.
3. Poor attendance is a disruption to the instructional programs of students who attend school on a regular basis. 4. Each school shall keep accurate attendance records and establish procedures for monitoring and holding students accountable for unexcused or excessive absences.
5. The Board recognizes that frequent tardies can disrupt the educational process not only for that student but also the entire class; thus, the Board directs schools to develop tardy procedures to deal with students who have habitual tardies.

TRUANCY:

 As defined by Idaho law, a habitual truant is any pupil who, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, repeatedly has violated the attendance regulations of the School District, or any child whose parents or guardians, or any of them, have failed or refused to cause the child to enroll and regularly attend school. As directed by Idaho law, the Board shall file a truancy petition with the magistrate court of Kootenai County whenever it determines that the parents or guardians of any child are failing to meet compulsory school attendance requirements up until age 16.

ABSENCES AND EXCUSES MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS:

1. A student who is absent 10 or more days during a grading period (trimester or semester) may be referred to the Board of Trustees for determination as a habitual truant.
2. To ensure the safety of the student, it is required that parents/legal guardian contact/communicate to the school regarding each day or portion thereof that their child is absent;
3. If a student is to be out of school for an approved extended absence, it is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to make arrangements for assignments with the teacher prior to such absence, understanding that many assignments can only be made up after returning to school. In all absentee cases, class assignments must be completed within the specified time frame for the student to receive credit.
4. Inadequate and unacceptable academic progress due to absences may result in loss of credit and/or retention in the current grade, if appropriate to that particular student;
5. Excused absences are those which are verified by the parent/legal guardian or school official and they should be verified before the absence or within 2 school days after the absence.
6. Documented notification will be sent to parents from the school when a child has accrued 4, 7 and 10 absences in a grading period.

EXCUSED ABSENCES: An excused absence is one that results when a child misses school for the following:
1. Illness or emergency medical treatment.
2. Death in the immediate family.
3. School-approved activities.
4. Requirement to appear for legal proceedings.
5. Documented family crisis or emergency.
6. All district-approved testing or counseling.
7. Medical appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of the school day.
8. Other unusual circumstances judged by the principal as “excused” on the individual merits of the case.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE: An unexcused absence is defined as a student:
1. Absent without the knowledge and consent of parent/legal guardian, or
2. Absent from school after once arriving on the campus, and without knowledge and consent of the school. Repeated unexcused absences may be cause for disciplinary action, suspension, expulsion or referral to the Board of Trustees for determination as a habitual truant.

An unexcused absence results if the following occur, but is not limited to any one listed below:
1. Leaves school without signing out in the office.
2. Is absent from school without prior permission of parents/legal guardian.
3. Is absent from class without permission.
4. Obtains a pass to go to certain place and does not report there.
5. Becomes ill and goes home or stays in the restroom instead of reporting to the office.
6. Has permission to walk home for lunch, becomes ill and remains there without having a parent/legal guardian call.
7. Comes to school but does not attend class.
8. Fails to excuse all absences within two (2) school days of returning to school