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Every day a student is absent is a lost opportunity for learning. Too many absences not only can affect achievement for the absent student but also can disrupt learning for the entire class. Research shows that students who consistently miss school are at risk of lower academic achievement, failure and even dropping out of school altogether.
Indiana State Senate Bill 282, entitled Truancy Prevention Policy (IC 20-33-2.5), and Indiana House Bill 1243 require us to make changes to our attendance policy beginning this school year. These bills require:
- School boards to adopt a policy that will apply to students who are absent 5 days within a 10-week period unless the absence is (1) excused or (2) in conformity with a note on file from a physician, therapist, or other professional under a student’s IEP, service plan, or 504 plan.
- The superintendent or attendance officer to notify the prosecutor when a student has been identified as a habitual truant (defined as a student who has 10 unexcused absences).
Indiana Department of Education’s definitions regarding attendance:
- IC 18-2-6.5 IDOE defines “chronic absenteeism” as students absent from school for 10 percent or more of a school year for any reason.
- IC 18-2-6.5 defines “habitual truancy” to include students absent ten (10) days or more from school within a school year without being excused or without being absent under parental request filed with the school.
Attendance Notifications
We send automated Attendance Notifications to parents/guardians (via email) whose children are marked “Absent” on a given school day to notify them of the absence or late arrival.You will receive a notification of your child’s absence when they have missed the following number of days:
- 3rd Unexcused Absence: Letter
- 5th Excused/Unexcused Absence: Letter and Administrator Call
- 5th Excused/Unexcused Absences (in a 10 week period): Parent Conference
- 8th Excused/Unexcused Absence: Letter
- 10th Excused/Unexcused Absence: Letter and notification sent to the Prosecutor
- 15th Unexcused Absence: Letter and notification to DCS
What Can Families Do?
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Start building this habit on the first day of school so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college and in their careers.What you can do:
- Avoid scheduling vacations when school is in session.
- Build regular routines for bedtime and the morning.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Talk about the importance of regular attendance and about how your child feels about school.
- Don’t permit missing school unless your child is truly sick. Use a thermometer to check for a fever. Remember that stomach aches and headaches may be signs of anxiety.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make him/her feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Avoid medical appointments when school is in session.
- Keep a chart recording your child’s attendance at home. At the end of the week, talk with your child about what you see.
- Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Ask a family member, neighbor or another parent for help.
Additional information regarding the Attendance Policy can be found in the Parent/Student Handbook.
Thank you for your support.
