Home> Elementary School > Policies & Handbooks > Attendance

Attendance

As a public school, the Irvington Community School and its students are required to follow all applicable state laws until a student graduates or withdraws.

The ICS attendance policies include:


1. Tardies: It is important for students to be on time to school and on time to each class for two reasons: 1. Lateness disrupts a classroom and its teaching; and, 2. Being on time is a skill that is important in life.

Students who arrive after 8:00 a.m. will report first to the office to obtain a pass. Exceptions will be made for weather and traffic issues. After 10:00 a.m., the student will be debited with a half-day absence.


2. Absences: There are two types of absences:

  • Excused: A parent or guardian must call or leave a written note with the office secretary within 24 hours of the beginning of the absence. This communication must state the specific reason for the absence. Students are allowed to make up work for an excused absence and are given one day to complete the assignments for each day absent.
  • Unexcused: This is an absence for which the school does not receive a communication, or the reason is not legitimate. Students will not be given credit for any work due or assigned during an unexcused absence.


Absences are excused for the following circumstances:

  • Personal illness or injury
  • Required court attendance
  • Medical or dental appointments (only for the duration of the appointment and travel time)
  • Death in the family
  • Observance of a bona –fide religious holiday
  • Absences excused by state law or ICS

Students arriving after 10:00 a.m. or leaving before 1:30, whether excused or unexcused, will be debited a half-day absence.


After ten (10) full days of excused or unexcused absences, school personnel may refer the matter to the student support or the school counselor, or to Juvenile Probation for intervention. Excessive absences can lead to retention. (Floating holidays are not included in this count.) Students may then be required to have a physician’s statement for any further absences. For chronic or long-term illnesses, a physician’s certificate of incapacity will be required.



3. Leaving Early or Arriving Late: Families must notify the school when their students need to leave early or arrive late for “excusable” reasons: illness, medical appointments, funeral, or court attendance. Verification from the doctor’s office is required upon return to school in order for an absence to be marked “medical.” NOTE: Students will be sent home for illness only by the school nurse or a school manager (lead teacher, etc.)


STEPS ICS STAFF WILL TAKE:


Effective for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year:

1. A letter will be sent to all parents of students with 10 or more absences.(a)

2. After the next 2 absences, another letter will be sent reminding families of the importance of regular attendance. (b)

3. If the student misses an additional 2 days, the parent will be asked to attend an Attendance Referral Board meeting to discuss the nature of the absences and possible solutions for improved attendance. (c)

4. Following the Attendance Referral Board meeting, if the student misses another day of school legal notice will be sent notifying the parent that the child is considered to be truant (d) and the matter will be referred to juvenile court.

Effective at the start of the 2008-2009 school year:
1. At the start of they year, returning families will receive a letter stating how many days their child missed in the 07/08 school year, expressed as a number and a percent (e), as well as a pamphlet about the importance of regular school attendance (f).

2. At the end of each week, an ICS staff member will call parents of students with unexcused absences to verify the reason for the absence.

3. After 5 absences, a letter will be sent to parents reminding them of the importance of regular school attendance. (a)

4. After 7 absences, the parent will receive a second letter of the same nature, adding notification that an Attendance Referral Board meeting will be called if the student misses 2 more days. (b)

5. After 9 absences, the parent will be asked to attend a Behavior Referral Board meeting to discuss the nature of the absences and possible solutions for improved attendance. (c)

6. Following the Attendance Referral Board meeting, if the student misses another day of school. Legal notice will be sent notifying the parent that the child is considered to be truant (d) and the matter will be referred to juvenile court.

Tardiness policy:
1. As stated on page 1, school begins at 8:00 and students arriving late cause disruptions when they sign in at the front office, when they are in the hall after class has already started, and when they enter class late. An ICS staff member is on duty in the parking lot each morning and will notify the front office staff of any traffic problems or weather issues preventing students form arriving on time.

2. When a student has accumulated 10 tardies, a letter will be sent to the parents notifying them of the habitual problem and reminding them of the importance of arriving to school on time. (g)

3. Each time the student accumulates and additional 5 tardies, another letter will be sent.

4. When a student has accumulated 20 tardies, the parents will be asked to attend an Attendance Referral Board meeting to discuss the issue and possible solutions for improvement. (c)