Attendance

Absence Policies and Procedures

1. When a student is absent because of an unforeseen event such as illness, parents should enter their student’s attendance via Parent Portal on Infinite Campus

2. Families can also call the Attendance Office at 319-688-1041. Voicemail is available 24/7.

3. When a student knows in advance that they will miss school, the Attendance Office should be notified as soon as possible and the student should make up the work before the absence.

4. If a student is absent multiple days in a row, it is necessary to inform the school each day the student will be gone.

5. In the event you are unable to contact the Attendance Office prior to an absence, the time missed should be reported to the Attendance Office within two (2) school days for timely resolution. Unresolved absences are unexcused absences.

6. Students absent more than three (3) consecutive days should present documentation to return to school.

7. A student will be marked absent if they leave the classroom without permission.

8. Adults cannot excuse absences where a student is still on campus but missing class, or to miss one class in order to work in a different one.

9. A student will have two days to make up work for the first day of an excused absence. From that point they will have one day to make up work for each day absent, up to teacher discretion. The administration may grant additional days in special circumstances. Please review the teacher website and syllabus for additional information.

10. If a student becomes ill or has a health-related emergency while at school, they must report to the Health Office where a school official will notify a parent and/or administrator before being sent home. Students dismissed from school through the Health Office should first sign out through the Attendance Office.

11. Students arriving at school after the start of first period are required to sign in through the Attendance Office. Students leaving and/or returning to campus during school hours are also required to check out/in through the Attendance Office. Failure to follow check in/out procedures through the Attendance Office may result in the student’s absence/late arrival being considered unexcused.

12. Students must be in attendance at school a minimum of three consecutive class periods in order to participate in an after-school activity or event. (School related absences do not apply).

13. Consequences for poor attendance may include, but are not limited to:

    • Warning

    • Before or After school Detention

    • Family meetings

    • Loss of special privileges (e.g. open campus, open hours, dances, etc)

    • Withdrawal from class

    • Habitual Truancy Referral (to County Attorney’s Office)

Attendance Codes and Descriptions

There are a few subtle differences between the different kinds of excused absences, the most important being that an EX (Excused Absence) will eventually count against a sudent’s grades or ability to remain in a class, whereas the other excused absences (ACT, APPT, ADMIN, etc) do not.

• ET – Excused Tardy a parent/guardian has called in and they arrive within the first 10 minutes of class.
• UT – Unexcused Tardy no parent/guardian has called in and they arrive within the first 10 minutes of class.
• L – Extended Unexcused Tardy no parent/guardian has called in and they are between 11 minutes and a half hour late to class. Dean of Students and Administration has the discretion to treat these as Unexcused Absences if they believe that students are intentionally abusing the policy.
• EA – Excused Absence a parent/guardian has called in but there is no documentation and they arrive more than 10 minutes late to class. Examples include but are not limited to illnesses, family emergencies, appointments.
• UA – Unexcused Absence no parent/guardian has called in and they have missed more than a half hour or the entire class.
• ACT – School Activity school related absences such as field trips, school sponsored events, assessment exams, college visits (which require documentation), CHS athletic events.
• APP – Appointment or MED Medical Excused - there is physical paperwork documenting the reason for the absence. Examples include but are not limited to doctor, dentist, court, etc.
• ADMIN – Administrative this could be IEP meetings, meetings with administration, suspensions and other administrative occurrences.
• ND – No Dress in PE student was in class but lost points due to not dressing out.

Classroom Tardies

Arriving on time to school and all classes is as important as being in school daily. Arriving late to a class causes students to miss important instructional time and can be disruptive to the class already in session.

A student is considered UT (Unexcused Tardy) up to 10 minutes after the bell rings.

If students already have a pass from a teacher, the Guidance Office, the Health Office, etc., they should still come to the Attendance Office with that pass prior to proceeding to their class. This allows the attendance to be corrected in Infinite Campus before the student gets to class, thus minimizing the interruption to a class already in progress.

After 10 minutes, a student will be marked with an “L” (Unexcused Extended Tardy). Students arriving to class after 10 minutes should check in to the Attendance Office to secure a pass before reporting to class.

Three UTs (Unexcused Tardy) or two Ls (Unexcused Extended Tardy) is equal to one UA (Unexcused Absence) which may result in an assigned detention.
Teachers will contact home after three tardies and will also inform administration.

School sponsored activities, approved medical absences, suspensions, and special circumstances approved by an administrator are not considered as part of excessive absences. (Absence codes APPT, ACT, ADMIN, ISS, OSS)

Students are responsible for all missed school work regardless of reason for an absence.

Excused Absences

1. After 5 excused absences from one class, a phone call and letter will be sent home to encourage regular attendance and to verify the number of absences. 

2. After 8 excused absences from one class, a call home will be made to arrange a meeting to discuss the reasons for absences. In addition, any absence beyond 8 excused absences may require a doctor’s excuse. Absences that do not have a doctor’s approval may be deemed unexcused and students are subject to loss of credit.

Unexcused Absences

1. After the 1st and 2nd unexcused absence, an automated call home will be made using Infinite Campus. Teachers will discuss with students to learn why class was missed and notify administration only when needed of any important information learned. Detentions begin after 2 absences. 

2. After the 3rd and 4th unexcused absence, Teachers will make a personal call home notifying the family of the amount of absences from class. In addition, a detention will be assigned for each unexcused absence. 

3. After the 5th unexcused absence, a parent meeting will be arranged to discuss the unexcused absences. Administration will inform the family that at 10 unexcused absences, credit for the class will be lost. A letter will be sent home outlining this information and the appeal process.  Alsoform, a detention will be assigned for each unexcused absence. 

4. After the 10th unexcused absence, administration will notify the family that the student may be dropped with a “W” or “F” depending on when in the trimester. A student may remain in the course, with teacher approval, and appeal the W or F. See the appeal process below.

All Day Unexcused Absences (Skipping school)

1. After the first skipped day, an automated phone call home will be made using Infinite Campus.

2. After the second skipped day, a personal phone call home will be made by Administration.

3. After the third skipped day, a personal phone call home by Administration will be made and a meeting with the guardians will be arranged. 

4. After the fourth skipped day, students will serve a day in the SPACE for intervention and discuss reinstatement. Families and students will meet with the administration to discuss attendance issues and daily schedule.

Lunch Detentions

1. 30 minute Detentions due to poor attendance will be served in room 1101

   a. Before school: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday beginning at 8:15-8:45 AM
   b. After school: Monday at 4:15-4:45 PM and Thursday at 3:15-3:45 PM. 
    

2. Detentions must be served within 2 days of being notified of detention. 

“Unexcused” Absence from Detention

1st Offense: The School Facilitator will contact the Parent/Guardian and the student will have the opportunity to reschedule

2nd Offense: Notify Student Support Coordinator (School Facilitator) Referral to SPACE for 1/2 day (Student Support Coordinator)