PARENT/GUARDIAN RESPONSIBILITY (ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE)

            Parents and guardians are responsible for enrolling their children in school and for assuring that their children attend school and obey behavior rules and guidelines as set out by school policy.  Parents/Guardians failing to enroll students and assuring their attendance and proper behavior are subject to attending an Early Warning Program (through the Lauderdale County Judicial System), fines and/or imprisonment under state law.  State law also requires the Superintendent to report all truancy-related suspensions to the District Attorney.  (Alabama 16-28-16, 16-28-3, 12-15-13, Act #94-782) .

DRIVER’S LICENSE/ATTENDANCE

            Students must have a student enrollment form to take the driver’s test.  Form must be picked up at school during the school day.  During the 1994 Legislative session, the Alabama Legislature passed Act #94-820, which attaches school attendance standards with the right to retain, apply, renew, or reinstate a driver’s license or learner’s permit to operate a motor vehicle.

ATTENDANCE POLICY FACT SHEET

1.      No more than three parent/guardian notes with a maximum of six cumulative days total should be excused per trimester.  (Example:  Johnny is absent for three days and his parents write a note.  The principal excuses it for three days/1 parent note.  Johnny is sick again within the trimester and is absent for three more days, and, once again parents write a note for three days.  The principal excuses the absences/2 parent notes.  Johnny misses two additional days.  Parents sign a note stating he is sick.  Should the principal excuse it?  NO, because the child has already had six absences excused for the trimester with a parent note).  (What if a parent writes three separate notes for one day each and his/her child is sick again.  May we accept a fourth note if the child has less than six absences?  Answer: No)

2.      More than three parent/guardian notes or days exceeding six days per trimester will be coded unexcused.

3.      Any absence beyond six days or three parent/guardian notes a trimester must be doctor/court verified in order for administrators to consider if the absence(s) should be excused.

4.      A student must provide a written excuse within three days upon his/her return from school.  Failure to do so will result in the absence being considered unexcused.

5.      Doctor/Court excuses must have original signatures from the appropriate officials in order for the absence(s) to be considered excused.

6.      School administrators have the right to investigate doctor/court excuses to determine their legitimacy.

7.      After an absence, a student must have an admission form, signed by an administrator/designee, to return to class.  This form should denote excused or unexcused absence.  Students should not be allowed in class without designated admission form stating excused or unexcused status.

8.      Attendance policy applies to all students enrolled in school regardless of age.  However, students ages 16 and over may be dismissed from school if they have 10 consecutive unexcused absences or 15 cumulative unexcused absences in a school year.

9.  Work missed for unexcused absences should not be allowed to be made up for a grade.