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Attendance Policies
Attendance in school is central to educational achievement and school success. School attendance is required by state law for all children between the ages of seven (7) and sixteen (16). Parents must ensure that students attend and remain in school daily.
This year the School Superintendent of Wake County has made district wide Improved Attendance his number one goal. There is strong data to show that good attendance has a strong link to closing the achievement gap for all students.
It is Wake County School Board Policy that a letter goes out to all parents/guardians when their child reaches a total of seven (7) and fifteen (15) absences, regardless of what time of year that may occur. Each school is asked to make careful consideration in sending these letters on a regular basis. It is difficult to predict who is at risk of developing a pattern of excessive absences. Therefore, the Board has developed a policy of when all schools should send letters giving parents an accurate count of their children's absences, before it becomes too much of a problem. The policy also instructs the schools of the verbiage to be used.
We recognize that most parents are doing a wonderful job in teaching their children to take school attendance very seriously. Unfortunately, due to the few that are not as actively concerned with their children's absences, we must send the letter to all.
At Lufkin Road Middle School , students are to report to the main office when returning from an absence with or without an absence note before reporting to any class. The student will be given a copy of a Class Admission Slip to give to their teachers. Students are given two (2) days to provide an absence note, if not provided, the absence will be considered unexcused. Attendance calls are made daily by an automated system to notify parents that their child has been listed as absent. If you feel that this information in incorrect, please call the school.
The following Wake County Public School Board Attendance Policies may be helpful to review:
6000.1 |
The principal must assure adherence to attendance rules and regulations and notify parents of their responsibility under the compulsory attendance law. The teacher must monitor and report student absences on a daily and class basis and follow all rules and regulations concerning attendance. |
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6000.2 |
To be counted present a student must be in attendance at least one-half of the student school day. This shall include attendance at official school activities at a place other than school with the approval of the principal. A student shall be in his/her assigned area at the beginning of the school day and the beginning of each class or be recorded as tardy. |
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6000.3 |
An absence is excused if the following conditions exist: |
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Illness or injury which makes the student physically unable to attend school. |
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Isolation ordered by the State Board of Health or the Wake County Health Department. |
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Death in family. |
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Medical, dental, or other appointment with a health care provider for the student or for a child for whom the student is a custodial parent. |
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Court when a student is under subpoena. |
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Religious observance, as suggested by the religion of the student or the student's parents. |
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Participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel with prior approval , as documented on the "Request for Excused Absence for Educational Reasons." |
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A catastrophic event or natural disaster. |
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6000.4 |
Absences not classified as excused in 6000.3 are unexcused. The student is responsible for submitting a note signed by the parent citing the reason for an absence to the principal's designee within two (2) days of the student's return to school. Failure to comply with the above will result in the absence being unexcused. |
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6000.5 |
For all absences, the student shall make up all work in a timely manner at the convenience of the teacher. The make-up work may be specific material missed by the student, reinforcement, or enrichment. |
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6000.6 |
Excessive absences will have serious academic consequences and may result in class or grade-level failure. |
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6000.8 |
At the secondary level cumulative absences above ten (10) in a block course (twenty (20) in a full-year course ) are excessive. After five (5) days of accumulated absences in one or more block courses , ( ten (10) in a full-year course) there will be school-determined, expectations-based intervention to help the student improve his or her attendance. The intervention will involve parents. After ten (10) days of accumulated absences in a block course (twenty (20) in a full-year course) and failure to meet previously-determined expectations, the student will be subject to failure, retention, or summer school. |
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6000.9 |
All schools will develop a plan to improve attendance. As part of this plan, each school will establish procedures to develop and implement interventions disciplinary action for unexcused absences and a process for dealing with students who fail to meet previously-determined expectations. |
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6000.10 |
The principal shall have the authority to waive the school-based decision after excessive absences as defined in 6000.8. |
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6000.11 |
Students with documented, chronic health problems will be exempted from the policy if absences are excused. |
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