Policy: JH
Attendance. Absenteeism, and Truancy
A. Attendance and Absenteeism
1. In General
Students between the ages of 6 and 18 enrolled in the district
are required to attend school in accordance with all applicable
state laws and Board policies. The educational program offered
by the District is predicated upon the presence of the student
and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation
in order for the student to achieve academic standards and
consistent educational progress.
Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in the
District during the days and hours that school is in session,
except that the Principal may excuse a student for temporary
absence after receiving satisfactory evidence of a situation
or condition that may reasonably cause the student’s
absence.
2. Excused Absences
Reasons for excused absences include, but are not limited
to, the following:
a. Illness of student or illness of an immediate family member
b. Extreme weather conditions
c. Recovery from an accident
d. Death in the immediate family
e. Religious holiday of the student’s faith
f. Required court appearance or subpoena
g. Medical or Dental appointments unable to be scheduled outside
of school hours
h. Such other good cause as approved by the Principal or permitted
by law.
Any absence that has not been excused for any of these reasons
will be considered an unexcused absence.
3. Notification of Absence
In the event of an illness, the parent or guardian shall call
the School and inform the District of the student’s
illness and absence from school. For other absences, the parent/guardian
shall provide written notice or a written excuse that states
the reason for non-attendance. The Principal may require parents
to provide additional documentation in support of their written
notice.
If the parent/guardian wishes for their child to be absent
for a reason not listed above, he/she must provide a written
explanation of the reason for such absence, including why
the student will be absent and for how long the student will
be absent. The Principal will make a determination as to whether
the stated reason for the student’s absence will maintain
the progress and continuity of the child’s education
and will notify the parent/guardian of his/her decision. The
parent/guardian has the right to appeal the decision to the
Superintendent. If the parent/guardian is still not satisfied
with the decision of the Superintendent, an appeal may be
made to the School Board where a final determination will
be made.
4, Family Vacations/Educational Opportunities
Absences other than for illness during the school year are
discouraged. The school Principal may, however, grant special
approval of absence for family vacations. The parent/guardian
shall notify the Principal in writing two weeks in advance
of any absence exceeding three consecutive school days. Faculty
receiving notification of such absences shall refer the request
to the Principal. This advance planning will allow the teacher
sufficient time to work with the parents and the student regarding
homework completion.
B. Truancy
1. In General
Truancy is defined as any unexcused absence from class or
school. Any absence that has not been excused for any of the
reasons listed above will be considered an unexcused absence.
Ten half-days of unexcused absence during a school year constitutes
habitual truancy.
A half-day absence is defined as a student missing more than
two hours of instructional time and less then three and one-half
hours of instructional time in a day.
Any absence of more than three and one-half hours of instructional
time shall be considered a full-day absence.
The Lyme Chief of Police is hereby designated as Truant Officer
for the District and shall, when directed by the Superintendent,
enforce the laws and regulations relating to truants.
2. Intervention Process to Address Truancy
a. The Principal shall ensure that the administrative guidelines
on attendance properly address the matter of truancy by including
a process that identifies students who are habitually truant,
as defined above.
b. When the Principal identifies a student who is habitually
truant or who is in danger of becoming habitually truant,
he/she shall commence an intervention with the student, the
student’s parent/guardian, and other staff members as
may be deemed necessary. The intervention shall include processes
including, but not limited to:
1) Investigation of the cause(s) of the student’s truant
behavior;
2) Considering, when appropriate, modification of his/her
educational program to meet particular needs that may be causing
the truancy;
3) Involvement the parent/guardian in the development of a
plan designed to reduce the incidence of truancy.
3. Parental Involvement in Truancy Intervention
When a student reaches habitual truancy status or is in danger
of reaching habitual truancy status, the Principal will send
the parent/guardian a letter which includes:
a. A statement that the student has become or is in danger
of becoming habitually truant;
b. A statement of the parent/guardian’s responsibility
to ensure that the student attends school; and
c. A request for a meeting between the parent/guardian and
the Principal to discuss the student’s truancy and to
develop a plan for addressing the student’s truancy.
4. Developing and Coordinating Strategies for Truancy
Reduction
The Board encourages the School to pursue truancy-prevention
and truancy-reduction strategies such as early identification
of truancy and prompt notification of absences to parents;
assisting school staff to develop site attendance plans by
providing development strategies, resources and referral procedures;
considering the adoption of attendance-incentive programs
at the school and in individual classrooms that reward and
celebrate good attendance.
These guidelines shall be advisory only. The Superintendent
is authorized to develop and utilize other means, guidelines
and programs aimed at preventing and reducing truancy.
5. Parental Notification of Truancy
Policy
Prior to adopting this policy, the Board will place the item
on the agenda of a public school board meeting and will allow
two weeks for public input as to the policy’s provisions.
Any public input shall be advisory only and final adoption
as to the policy’s provisions will remain solely with
the board.
Additionally, the Superintendent shall also ensure that this
policy is included in or referenced in the student handbook.
ADOPTED: 8 June 1989
REVISED: 25 May 2000; 18 November 2010
