• Student Conduct:     Attendance Policy and Regulations
     
    COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AGE - Code of Alabama 1975 (Section 16-28-3)
    Every child between the ages of 6 - 17 must attend a public school, private school, church school or be instructed by a competent private tutor for the entire length of the school term except that every child attending a church school is exempt from the requirements of the Code of Alabama 1975 (Section 16-28-3), provided such child complies with the enrollment and reporting procedure specified in the Code of Alabama 1975 (Section 16-28-7) of the code.
     
    TCSS POLICY
    The Tuscaloosa County Board of Education believes that regular school attendance is important to students and to the school system.  Regular attendance by students facilitates development of the skills and knowledge necessary to function in a democratic society.  Therefore, the Board endeavors to secure, in compliance with Alabama law, the prompt and regular attendance of students and to secure their proper conduct, and to hold their parents, guardians or other persons in charge or control of students responsible and liable for such student's nonattendance and proper conduct (Policy 5.40 and 5.41).
      
    ABSENTEEISM
    An absence is defined as nonattendance in a regularly scheduled class or activity.  To be counted present, a student must be present more than 51% of the full academic day as stated on page 10 of the State Attendance Manual.
       
    CHRONIC ABSENTISM
    Chronic Absentism is habitually missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absences for any reason - excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions.
      
    EXCUSES
    In accordance with Alabama law, parents/guardians MUST explain the cause of every absence of students under their control or charge.  Every student, upon return to school, MUST bring a written excuse from home with two (2) days following the absence signed by the student's parent/guardian for each absence and present it to the Principal or his/her designee.  After a total of ten (10) absences in a school year for elementary, intermediate, and middle school students, the parent/legal guardian of student will be required to provide medical or legal documentation for absences to be excused.  After a total of five (5) absences per term/semester for high school students, the parent/legal guardian of student will be required to provide medical or legal documentation for absences to be excused.  All written excuses shall be retained for the remainder of the school year in the Principal's office or other approved location.   
      
    EXCUSED ABSENCES
    All student absences shall be designated as either excused or unexcused.  In accordance with Alabama law, a student shall be excused for an absence from school for any ONE of the following reasons: 
    • personal illness of the student;
    • death in the immediate family;
    • inclement weather which would be dangerous to the life or health of the student as determined by the Principal;
    • legal quarantine or subpoena;
    • with prior permission of the Principal and consent of the parent/legal guardian;
    • emergency conditions as determined by the Principal;
    • official religious holiday.
      
    UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
    Absence for reasons other than those defined above shall be considered as unexcused.  Any student seventeen (17) years of age or older who has not registered within five (5) school days of the beginning of a new school term/semester will be denied admission unless extenuating circumstances are approved by the Superintendent or his/her designee, unless the student qualifies for services under applicable state and federal law.  In such instances, any student seventeen (17) years of age or older may be enrolled and is eligible for educational services until age of twenty-one (21).     
     
    STUDENT ABSENCES AND PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
    Students who are away from school because of participation in official school sponsored activities shall be marked present and allowed to make up missed work.  Students who are absent from school for an excused or unexcused reason shall not be allowed to participate in any school extracurricular or co-curricular activities that day (athletic contests, cheerleading, band, scholars' bowl, beauty walk, prom, etc.) unless that absence is approved in advance by the school Principal.
      
    PRE-K PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT ATTENDANCE
    Regular attendance ensures Pre-K children benefit from participating in quality early education.  Regular attendance, in addition to a good measure of parent engagement, is a school readiness skill.  After a student has acquired a total of ten (10) absences, tardies, or checkouts, the parent is required to meet with the Pre-K director to discuss attendance.  Any further absences may result in removal from the Pre-K program.