Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE POLICY

According to Utah State Law and School Board Policy: “The student is responsible to be present in class and the parent, guardian, or other person having control of any such minor between six and eighteen years of age shall be required to send such minor to school during the regularly established school day in the attendance area of residence.” Students are expected to be in school every day unless properly excused by their parents, administration, advisor, or teacher. It is the student’s responsibility to make up work in any class missed regardless of the reason for absence. Excessive absences (even those excused by parents) may be cause for due process interventions. Consistent attendance increases student learning and achievement.

Truancies

Absences not properly excused will be considered a truant.

Consequences for excessive truancies may include:

• Lower citizenship grade in classes missed
• Truancy-related missing work given no credit
• Referral to Administration
• Youth Court referral (Court fee, appear before jury of peers, etc.)
• Suspension and /or referral to the District Office for alternative placement
• Juvenile Truancy Court referral

Pre-Arranged Absences

When parents request to have their children excused for reasons other than medical appointments, illness or family emergencies, arrangements for such absences (example…vacations, weddings, etc.) should be made well in advance. This gives the student an opportunity to complete class work prior to the absence for full credit. A pre-arranged absence form is available in the attendance office.

Procedure for Excusing an Absence

A parent or guardian must call the school (452-4800) or send a signed note to excuse an absence for illness or family emergency. If calling after school hours, please leave a detailed message including your name, student’s name and the reason for the absence. Absences not properly excused will be considered a truant.

Checking in and out of school for partial –day absences

Medical and dental appointments or family emergencies may cause a student to arrive late or leave early during the school day. When arriving late or leaving early, the procedure is the same: Parents must check students out, in-person. Parents may call ahead to have their student ready at a specified time but for our students' safety, no student will be released without an authorized parent/guardian/contact coming to the attendance window to sign them out. Students check in and out at the attendance window by scanning their student ID.  Only those authorized in the emergency contact information for the student will be allowed to check out that student. Office personnel may ask for picture ID.

Tardiness

Punctuality is a very important life skill and students need to develop this skill by being on time to class, ready to work when the tardy bell rings. Consistent tardiness will result in the following consequences: