5200 - ATTENDANCE

Ida Public School District

Bylaws & Policies

5200 - ATTENDANCE

The Board of Education as an agency of the State is required to enforce the regular attendance of students. The Board recognizes that the presence in the classroom enables the student to participate in instruction, class discussions, and other related activities. As such, regular attendance and classroom participation are integral to instilling incentives for the student to excel.

Attendance shall be required of all District students, except those exempted under Policy 5223 or by other provisions of State law, during the days and hours that the school is in session or during the attendance sessions to which s/he has been assigned.

The Superintendent shall require, from the parent of each student or from an adult student who has been absent for any reason, a written statement and/or confirmation of the cause for such absence. The Board reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each:

	A.	prolonged absence;

	B.	absence of more than three (3) days duration;

	C.	repeated unexplained absence and tardiness.

The Board may report to the Intermediate School District infractions of the law regarding the attendance of students below the age of sixteen (16). Repeated infractions of Board policy requiring the attendance of enrolled students may result in the suspension or expulsion of the student from the District program.

The Board considers the following factors to be reasonable excuses for time missed at school:

	A.	illness

	B.	recovery from accident

	C.	required court attendance

	D.	professional appointments

	E.	death in the immediate family

	F.	observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday

	G.	such other good cause as may be acceptable to the Superintendent

Attendance need not always be within the school facilities, but a student will be considered to be in attendance if present at any place where school is in session by authority of the Board.

The Board shall consider each student assigned to a program of other guided learning experiences, authorized under Policy 2370, to be in regular attendance for the program provided that s/he reports daily to such staff member s/he is assigned for guidance at the place in which s/he is conducting study, and regularly demonstrates progress toward the objectives of the course of study.

The Board authorizes, but does not encourage the Superintendent, to suspend a student from a particular class or from school if sincere efforts by the staff and parents cannot rectify the pattern of absence. In keeping with its philosophy, the Board supports efforts to provide for out-of-school alternative educational opportunities for truant students rather than to heighten the effects of absence through suspension.

The Superintendent shall develop procedures for the attendance of students which:

	A.	ensure a school session which is in conformity with the requirements of the law;

	B.	ensure that students absent for any excusable reason have an opportunity to make up work they missed;

	C.	ensure the student is not given a failing grade or his/her credit is not unconditionally revoked where lack of attendance is the sole or primary determining factor, but which allow reduction in grade or denial of credit, if the student does not make appropriate use of make-up sessions provided by the instructor or administrator;

	D.	govern the keeping of attendance records in accordance with the rules of the State Board and the Michigan Department of Education Pupil Accounting Manual, including a written electronic attendance procedure, if applicable;

	E.	identify the habitual truant, investigate the cause(s) of his/her behavior, and consider modification of his/her educational program to meet particular needs and interests;

ensure that any student who, due to a specifically identifiable physical or mental impairment, exceeds or may exceed the District's limit on excused absence is referred for evaluation for eligibility either under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Such guidelines should provide that a student's grade in any course is based on his/her performance in the instructional setting and is not reduced for reasons of conduct. If a student violates the attendance or other rules of the school, s/he should be disciplined appropriately for the misconduct, but his/her grades should be based upon what the student can demonstrate s/he has learned.

M.C.L.A. 380.1561, 380.1561(3a-3c), 380.1586(3)