ATTENDANCE POLICY

High School Attendance Policy

Regular attendance in all classes is essential to the learning process and establishes good work habits.  Students are expected to be in attendance every day of the school year.  Parents/Guardians have a legal responsibility to insure that their son(s) and/or daughter(s) are in attendance each day school is in session.

Attendance will be taken in every class and teachers will record each absence.  It is the responsibility of the student to make up class work missed during any absence.  The following procedure will be followed.

1.      Absences do not require a note from any source.  Parents/guardians/students should keep pertinent documentation regarding student absences.

2.      Parents/Guardians are required to contact the school to report a student absence, so that school officials know that the parent/guardian is aware of a student’s absence from school.

3.      Students who exceed eight (8) absences in a semester course and sixteen (16) in a full-year course will lose credit for that course.

4.      Students who are absent from school will not be allowed to participate in any after school activity on the day of absence.  Students absent on Friday will not participate in any event until school reconvenes.

5.      Students whose tardiness causes them to miss more than half (1/2) of a class will be considered absent for the purpose of the Attendance Policy.  (refer to Tardy Policy relative to disciplining tardiness).

Reasonable accommodations to the above policy will be made for students who are absent due to a disability in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The Appeal Process

This process has been developed for those extraordinary situations which   result in excessive absences.  An Attendance Appeals Board made up of three (3) to five (5) school officials will make assessments of individual situations and a decision will be made.  The Appeals Board will include a representative from the school in which the student attends.  A written decision will be rendered within five (5) school days following the close of the hearing unless additional time is mutually agreed upon by the parties.

1. The student and parent must write a letter requesting a review of the circumstances and the restoration of credit to the Supervisor of Attendance, 180 Broadway, Chicopee, MA. 01020.  All letters must be received within ten (10) calendar days from the date of notification of loss of credit.  The appointed attendance appeals board may require third party documentation of reason for absence.

2. The Attendance Appeal Board decision may be appealed by the student or parent/guardian by submitting a written request to the school principal within three (3) school days of the date of the letter from the Appeal Board.  The principal will review all materials submitted to the Appeal Board as well as the Board’s decision.  The principal may require a meeting with the parent/guardian and the student.  The principal will render a decision as soon as possible.

Elementary and Middle Schools Attendance Policy

It is the opinion of the School Administration and staff that regular attendance in all classes is essential to the learning process and establishes good work habits.  Therefore, students are expected to be in attendance every day of the school year.  Parents/guardians have a legal responsibility to insure that their child or children are in attendance each day school is in session.

Attendance should be taken in every class and teachers shall record each absence.  It is the responsibility of the student to make up all work missed during any absence.  Failure to do so will result in a zero being recorded unless otherwise noted.  Excessive absences which have a negative effect on test scores, class participation or other criteria used by the classroom teacher to establish satisfactory performance may jeopardize a student’s promotion and/or successful course completion.

1. The intent of this policy is not to say that a certain number of absences from school, or a course is acceptable or allowable.
2. Parents/guardians are required to contact the school to report an absence.  It is important that school officials know that the parents/guardians are aware of a student’s absences a student takes.
3. The major intent of this policy is to impose a limit on the number of absences a student takes.  Students in grades K-8 who exceed twenty (20) absences in a school year may be considered for non-promotion.
4. Students who are determined to be truant will not be given an opportunity to make up any tests or other assignments given on the day in question.  The student will receive a zero (0) for the day.
5. Family vacations are discouraged during the school year.  Parents and students should be aware that any school days missed, as a result of family vacations cannot be appealed.
6. Parents will be notified of student absences by administration after five (5) days.
7. Students who are absent from school will not be allowed to participate in any after school activity on the day of absence (students absent on a Friday will not participate in any event until school reconvenes).  In extenuating circumstances, the Administration has the discretion to override this provision of the policy.
8. Students who arrive late to school or class are marked tardy.  Students whose tardiness cause them to miss more that half the class will be considered absent for the purposes of the attendance policy.  Disciplinary action will be taken in cases of repeated tardiness.

Reasonable accommodation to the above policy will be made for students who are absent due to a disability in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Appeal Procedure

Principals may, at their discretion, excuse absences for extreme situations such as hospitalization, chronic illness, court appearances, funerals, etc.  Parents will receive written notification prior to a student being retained for attendance and will have five (5) school days within which to request, in writing, an appeal of the decision.  At this time, evidence of mitigating circumstances from the student’s parents/guardians and/or family physician will be offered.  The principal shall make the final determination in consultation with other administrators, teachers, and counselors.