Student Attendance

  • Policy 2310

    Student Attendance

     

    The Board of Education believes that regular attendance is essential to achieving success in school.  Education is a total process based upon continual communication and shared responsibilities among parents, students, teachers and school.  As students mature and progress through the educational system, they should increasingly assume responsibility for regular attendance.  However, parents have a legal and moral responsibility to require regular attendance at school.

     

    The Board of Education adopts handbooks with information related to attendance for each attendance center.  Please see these handbooks for details on attendance policies, regulations and procedures.

     

    Policy 2311

    Student Attendance Excused Absences

     

    In accordance with Missouri state law, the District recognizes that the Future Farmers of America Organization (FFA), Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), 4-H programs, and organized competitions held as part of the Missouri state fair involve important education and learning processes and are beneficial to District students.  Due to the nature of these organizations, students will occasionally need to miss school time in order to fully participate and benefit from the programs sponsored by these organizations.  Accordingly, students who miss school time during the regular school day due to participation in officially sanctioned activities of the Future Farmers of America Organization (FFA), Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), 4-H, and competitions held as part of the Missouri state fair, shall receive an excused absence and shall be considered to be attending regularly scheduled instruction during such times of absence. Up to 10 days of school days for participation in such activities will be excused by the District per school year for each student.  If a leader of one of the above referenced organizations or the parent of a student participating in the Missouri state fair anticipates that a student will miss school time due to participation in an activity for such organization, the leader/parent shall let the building principal know with as much notice as possible prior to the event and receive his/her approval of the activity and for missed school time.  Time missed by students participating in an activity of such programs shall be included in the district's calculation of average daily attendance as defined by Missouri law.  Students who miss school time due to participation in an approved activity as set forth in this policy, will be expected to make up all school work missed during their absence. 

     

    Policy 2320

     

    Part-Time Attendance

     

     

    Students may attend District schools on a part-time basis as provided by state law.  The hours of attendance need to be consecutive.  A cooperative plan shall be arrived at by the student, parent/guardian, and the school to ensure graduation requirements will be met.  A student is encouraged to enroll in added coursework above the minimum graduation requirements.

     

    Policy 2340 

     

    Truancy and Educational Neglect

     

     

     

    The Board of Education believes regular attendance is important to academic success.  Therefore, the Board directs that problems with attendance on the part of any student be investigated and acted upon promptly.

     

    Truancy is defined as deliberate absence from school on the part of the pupil with or without the knowledge of the parent/guardian and for which no justifiable excuse is given.  When a pattern of truancy becomes evident, the principal will investigate and take such action as circumstances dictate.

     

    Section 210.115 R.S.Mo. mandates reporting to the Division of Family Services when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a student's non-attendance is due to the educational neglect of the parents/guardians.

     

    Any school official or employee who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is being subjected to home conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in truancy will immediately report or cause a report to be made to the building principal, or his/her designee, who will then become responsible for making a report via the Student Abuse Hotline to the Missouri Division of Family Services (DFS) and/or the juvenile authorities.  The building principal shall inform the Superintendent/designee that a report has been made, and keep the Superintendent apprised of the status of the case.  Reporting to the Superintendent may be made as an attendance log.