4011 - Attendance Policy for Elementary Students

Policy #4011 - Attendance Requirements for Elementary Students

Adopted March 14th, 2017

Revised September 13th, 2022 

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential to academic success to ensure concepts and skills are consistently learned. Piute County School District policy requires every school age child to arrive on time and attend school regularly. According to the Utah State Compulsory Attendance Law (53A-11-103) parents are responsible for their children’s regular school attendance.  This attendance must be continuous and uninterrupted except for legitimate reasons. Parents who are uncooperative and who disregard the Attendance Policy may be subject to school administrative intervention and/or referral.

Excused Absence

Legitimate reasons for absence from school are:  illness, medical appointments, family funerals, school-sponsored activity and emergencies caused by natural disaster.  Absences from school for one of these reasons are considered excused. Parents are to let the school know immediately if absences occur for any of the aforementioned reasons.

Parent Arranged Excused Absences

An extension of the excused absences named above may be requested by parents to the Attendance Committee to cover special events that would otherwise be considered unexcused absences. The Attendance Committee will consist of the student’s teacher, another teacher within the school, and the principal. The Attendance Committee has the authority to approve or deny such requests depending upon the urgency and justification of the requests.  Previous absences and the status of the student's current class work will be taken into consideration before permission for this type of absence is granted.  Parents should make the request well in advance of the planned absence. Schoolwork within 5 school days of the student’s return to school.  Completion of all assigned work is the responsibility of the student.

Leaving School

If a student needs to leave school during the school day for any reason, permission must be obtained from the teacher, principal or designee.  Failure to do so is considered truancy.

Sickness During School Hours

If a student becomes sick during the school day, he/she should inform the teacher, principal, or designee.  Arrangements can then be made with the parent/guardian to resolve the issue.

Homebound Students

If a student is going to miss ten or more consecutive school days because of illness or injury, the principal or designee can arrange for a teacher to oversee the progress  of the homebound student.  Parents must contact the school with doctor certification so a home teacher can be assigned.  These special arrangements will allow a student to stay current with his/her schoolwork.

Make-up Work

Regardless of whether an absence is excused or unexcused, it is the responsibility of the student to complete all missed assignments, tests, etc.  Immediately upon returning to school after an absence, the student should meet with teachers to make arrangements for making up tests and assignments.

Procedures for dealing with Truancy

1. Five or more days of unexcused absences within a school year are considered excessive and may require a doctor’s note to excuse subsequent absences. The Attendance Committee will use discretion in regards to truancy dealing with unexcused absences.

2. After five or more days of unexcused absences within a school year, the school will mail the parents a First Truancy Letter asking for the parents’ help with their student’s attendance and warning of consequences for further truancy.

3. After seven unexcused absences, the parents will be required to have a conference with the school principal or designee to discuss truancy issues.

4. After ten unexcused absences within a school year, the school will contact Law Enforcement for a Habitual Truancy Referral. If there are ten consecutive unexcused absences, students may be dropped from school rolls.

5. A tardy occurs when a student comes to school late, leaves during the day and returns, or leaves school early.  Three tardies will be considered an absence.

6.  The Attendance Committee will address any parental concerns with the above procedures.