Falcon School District #49, El Paso County, Colorado Page 1 of 4

File: JH-R

One criterion of a student’s success in school is regular and punctual attendance.

Frequent absences may lead to poor academic work, lack of social development,

and possible academic failure. Regular attendance is of utmost importance for

school interest, social adjustment, and scholastic achievement. No single factor

may interfere with a student’s progress more quickly than frequent tardiness or

absence.

According to state law, it is the obligation of every parent/guardian to ensure that

every child under his/her care and supervision receives adequate education and

training and, if of compulsory attendance age, attends school.

Each year the Board establishes the school attendance period by adopting a school

calendar. Students are expected to be in attendance in accordance with the district

adopted calendar.

Parents/guardians will be expected to take the responsibility for determining whether

it is safe to send their child to school due to severe weather.

Continuity in the learning process and social adaptation is seriously disrupted by

excessive absences. In most situations, the work missed cannot be made up

adequately. Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades,

enjoy school more, and are more employable after leaving school. For at least these

reasons, the Board believes that a student must satisfy two basic requirements in

order to earn full class credit: 1) satisfy all academic requirements, and 2) exhibit

good attendance habits as stated in this policy.

Absences occur any time a student misses a class, is more than five minutes late to

class without permission, is truant, or fails to follow correct check-out/check-in

procedures. In order to deliver the quality education expected by the community,

students must attend classes on a regular basis and remain for the entire school

day.

Excused absences are defined as:

1. Absences because of temporary illness or injury.

2. A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental, or

emotional disability.

3. A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the

school.

4. A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an

educational nature with advance approval by the administration.

5. Absences by those who are in the custody of court or law enforcement

authorities.

6. Those determined by school administration to be excusable, such as doctor’s

appointments or juvenile court appearances.

File: JH-R

Falcon School District #49, El Paso County, Colorado Page 2 of 4

Extensive excused absences may require verification from the appropriate doctor,

dentist, agency, etc. Parents/guardians should notify the appropriate attendance

office within 48 hours (excluding weekends) when their child will not be in school.

Students are expected to make up work and will be allowed 2 school days to make

up work for each day of absence. For example, if a student is absent for 2 days,

he/she will be allowed 4 days to make up work. All major projects are due on the

day specified. Out-of-school suspensions will not count as absences, and work may

be made up for 50% credit only, unless the building administrator has determined

otherwise. Family vacations during school time are strongly discouraged, as they

may result in the total student absences exceeding the specified limit.

Absences because of doctor’s appointments, juvenile court appearances, or family

trips scheduled during the year must be prearranged through the main office

whenever possible. Vacations should be planned for times when school is not in

session. A written note from the parent/guardian must accompany the student and

should include the length of and the reason for the absence. A request for a

prearranged absence should be made at least a period of time equal to the length of

time the student will miss school. For example, a one day absence would require a

one day notice. All assignments are due prior to the period of absence unless

otherwise specified by a teacher. Excused/prearranged absences in excess of

district designated number of allowable absences may become unexcused.

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the

foregoing exceptions. Each unexcused absence shall be entered on the student’s

record. The parents/guardians of the student receiving an unexcused absence will

be notified orally or in writing by the district of the unexcused absence whenever

possible.

In accordance with the law, the district may impose academic penalties which relate

directly to classes missed while unexcused. The administration shall develop

regulations to implement appropriate penalties. Student and parents/guardians may

petition the Board of Education for exceptions to this policy or the accompanying

regulations provided that no exception shall be sustained if the student fails to abide

by all requirements imposed by the Board as conditions for granting such exception.

Students who miss class because of participation in school field trips, musical

performances, student conferences, or other school-related activities will not be

considered absent. Teachers and administrators will be provided with a list of

students participating in such activities at least 48 hours in advance. Assignments

are to be completed and turned in prior to a school sponsored trip unless otherwise

File: JH-R

Falcon School District #49, El Paso County, Colorado Page 3 of 4

specified by a teacher. Administrators/teachers may refuse a student the right to

participate if academic expectations are not being met.

Elementary students will be allowed 10 excused absences per semester. Absences

will be documented in half or full day increments.

Secondary students will be allowed 6 excused absences per single class period

each semester. An absence from a high school “block” class will count as 2

absences since the time period is double that of a single class period.

Once students have exceeded the number of excused absences, an excuse issued

by the practitioner or agency may be required for subsequent absences or the

absence may be considered unexcused. After an accumulation of 7 days of

absence for elementary student and 4 and 6 absences for secondary students,

parents will receive a letter notifying them of the district’s attendance concerns; and

an administrative review of the student’s attendance record and IEP, if applicable,

will occur.

After an accumulation of 4 unexcused absences, secondary students will be placed

on an attendance contract that will include parent input when possible. Students

earning more than 4 unexcused absences per month or 10 unexcused absences

during any school year may be referred for truancy. Elementary and middle

students may be considered for retention.

Students with unexcused absences are expected to make up work missed but will

receive 50% of the earned grade.

Tardiness is defined as the appearance of a student without proper excuse after the

scheduled time that a class begins. Because of the disruptive nature of tardiness

and the detrimental effect upon the rights of the nontardy student to uninterrupted

learning, penalties shall be imposed for excessive tardiness. Parents/guardians

shall be notified of all penalties regarding tardiness.

Elementary students with excessive tardies to class or who habitually leave school

early for reasons other that those listed under reasons for excused absence, may be

placed on an attendance contract or referred for truancy proceedings.

In an unavoidable situation, a student detained by another teacher or administrator

shall not be considered tardy provided that the teacher or administrator gives the

student a pass to enter his next class. Teachers shall honor passes presented in

accordance with this policy.

File: JH-R

Falcon School District #49, El Paso County, Colorado Page 4 of 4

General procedures for penalties for tardiness at the secondary level are as follows:

1. On the third and fourth tardy to a class, the teacher will contact the

parent/guardian.

2. On the fifth tardy, or an accumulation of five tardies for any/all classes, a

referral will be written, the student will have an administrative conference and

be assigned one day of in-school suspension, and the parent will be notified. At

that time, the student will be notified of the consequence for further incidences

of tardiness.

3. Upon accumulation of another five tardies, the student will again have an

administrative conference and will be assigned two days of in-school

suspension. At that time parents will be called and an administrative

conference will be held to place the student on an attendance plan of

remediation.

4. The plan of remediation will include the consequences for further occurrences

of tardiness. After this conference, the behavior will be considered

“insubordination,” and consequences will be assigned accordingly.

Adopted: October 5, 2000.