Brookwood Elementary

ATTENDANCE POLICY AND REGULATIONS

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 the parents, guardians, or other persons in charge or control of students responsible and liable for such students’ nonattendance and improper 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 50% of the allotted time period.

CHRONIC ABSENTISM

Chronic Absenteeism 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 within 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 10 absences in a school year for elementary and middle school students, the parent/guardian of student will be required to provide medical or legal documentation for absences to be excused. After a total of 5 absences per term/semester for high school students, the parent/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 locations. 

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 parent

•emergency conditions as determined by the Principal

•official religious holidays

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Absence for reasons other than those defined above shall be considered as unexcused. Any student seventeen years of age or older who has not registered within the first five 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 years of age or older may be enrolled and is eligible for educational services until age of twenty-one.

MAKE-UP WORK: EXCUSED ABSENCES

If a student is absent for any excused reason as defined above, the student will be allowed to make up all major assignments and other work missed during said absence or absences at a time agreeable to the teacher(s). Teachers shall not be required to reteach lessons, but students shall be given a reasonable opportunity to learn the lessons missed due to excused absences. At the secondary level, the student shall be responsible for contacting the teacher or teachers to arrange to make up the work. At the elementary level, the parent/guardian shall be responsible for arranging necessary make-up work. Students shall have two (2) days for each day of excused absence to complete and return make-up work. It is the responsibility of the student to request and return make-up work.

MAKE-UP WORK: OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION

ELEMENTARY (GRADES K-5)

Students in grades K-5 will have 2 days from the last day of the suspension to turn in assignments to their teachers at their home school for a minimum of 65% of the original credit assigned. The parent/guardian shall be responsible for arranging necessary make-up work. 

SECONDARY (GRADES 6-8)

Students in grades 6-8 will have 2 days from the last day of the suspension to turn in assignments to their teachers at their home school for a maximum of 65% of the original credit assigned. The student shall be responsible for contacting the teacher(s) to arrange to make up work. 

SECONDARY (GRADES 9-12)

FIRST INFRACTION IN A YEAR RESULTING IN A SUSPENSION. Students in grades 9-12 who have been suspended from school will have 2 days from the last day of the suspension to turn in assignments to their teachers at their home school for a maximum of 65% of the original credit assigned. Major examinations will be allowed to be made up.

SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT INFRACTIONS IN A YEAR RESULTING IN A SUSPENSION. Students in grades 9-12 who have been suspended from school will not be allowed to make-up work other than major examinations. Teachers, at their discretion, may require students to make up homework, class work, etc., on a noncredit basis in order to help such students maintain academic pace. Teachers will assign zeroes to students when graded assignments were given during days missed. 

MAKE-UP WORK: UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

ELEMENTARY (GRADES K-5)

Teachers may provide make-up work or examinations for students absent for unexcused reasons. At discretion of the principal, teachers may allow students absent up to three times for unexcused reasons to make up any work for a maximum of 100% of the original credit assigned. Students will have two (2) days for each day of absence to complete and return make-up work.The parent/guardian shall be responsible for arranging necessary make-up work. Teachers will not automatically assign a failing grade to students absent for unexcused reasons; a failing grade may be assigned to such students only when graded assignments were given during days missed. Extenuating circumstances will be resolved at the discretion of the principal or designee.

SECONDARY (GRADES 6-8)

Teachers may provide make-up work or examinations for students absent for unexcused reasons. At their discretion, teachers may allow students absent up to three times a semester for unexcused reasons to make up any work for a maximum of 65% of the original credit assigned. Students will have two (2) days for each day of absence to complete and return make-up work. The student shall be responsible for contacting the teacher or teachers to arrange to make up the work. Teachers will not automatically assign zeroes to students absent for unexcused reasons; zeroes may be assigned to such students only when graded assignments were given during days missed. Extenuating circumstances will be resolved at the discretion of the principal or designee.

SECONDARY (GRADES 9-12)

Students with unexcused absences will not be allowed to make-up work. Teachers, at their discretion, may require students absent for unexcused reasons to make up homework, class work, etc., on a noncredit basis in order to help such students maintain academic pace. Teachers will assign zeroes to students when graded assignments were given during days missed.  

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STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND ATTENDANCE AWARDS

A student must be present more than fifty percent (50%) of the school day to be counted present;

•Elementary students must check in prior to 11:15 to be counted present for the day; elementary students must check out after 11:30 to be considered present for the day.

•Secondary students (middle school and high school students) must check in prior to 11:30 to be counted present for the day; secondary students must check out after 11:45 tobe considered present for the day.

•Perfect Attendance is based upon no tardies, check-ins nor check-outs.

STUDENT TARDINESS PROCEDURE

A tardy is defined as a student’s arrival after the official time set for the commencement of the respective school’s regular daily activities (i.e., homeroom, roll call, etc.). Tardiness is a Class I Offense in the Student Code of Conduct. Tardiness, for the most part, reflects improper planning and a disregard for punctuality. Tardiness to school is not distinguished as excused or unexcused. If a student is late, he/she is considered tardy. Exceptions will be made for a doctor or dentist office visit if the student brings a note from the doctor or dentist. All other exceptions must be approved in writing by the administration. Students who are tardy to school or to class will be assigned the following administrative responses:

PROCEDURES FOR TARDIES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

6th tardy per semester .............................................................................. After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention (if available)

8th tardy per semester .............................................................................. After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention (if available)

10th tardy per semester ............................................................................. After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention (if available)

Each additional tardy............................................................................................................................................................... Parent conference required

PROCEDURES FOR TARDIES IN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR EACH SEMESTER

4th tardy  ............................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

6th tardy  ............................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

8th tardy  ............................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

10th tardy and each additional tardy ......................................................................................................................................... In-School Intervention

PROCEDURES FOR TARDIES IN HIGH SCHOOLS FOR EACH NINE WEEKS GRADING PERIOD

3rd tardy  ............................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

4th tardy  ............................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

5th tardy  and each additional tardy ............................................................................................................................................................................................. In-School Intervention

 STUDENT CHECK-OUT PROCEDURE

A check-out is defined as a student’s departure from school before the official time set for dismissal. Check-outs are a Class I Offense in the Student Code of Conduct. Check-outs from school are not distinguished as excused or unexcused. Exceptions will be made for a doctor or dentist office visit if the student brings a note from the doctor or dentist. All other exceptions must be approved in writing by the administration. Students who check-out from school or to class will be assigned the following administrative responses:

PROCEDURES FOR CHECK-OUTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

6th check-out per semester ........................................................................... After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention (if available)

8th check-out per semester ........................................................................... After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention (if available)

10th check-out per semester ......................................................................... After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention (if available)

Each additional tardy per semester ................................................................................................................................................................................................ Parent conference required

PROCEDURES FOR CHECK-OUTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS FOR EACH SEMESTER

4th check-out ................................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

6th check-out ................................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

8th check-out ................................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

10th check-out and each additional check-out ...................................................................................................................................... In-School Intervention

PROCEDURES FOR CHECK-OUTS IN HIGH SCHOOLS FOR EACH NINE WEEKS GRADING PERIOD

3rd check-out ................................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

4th check-out ................................................................................................................ After School Detention, Saturday Detention, or In-School Intervention

5th check-out and each additional check-out ....................................................................................................................................... In-School Intervention

TRUANCY

Truancy is the habitual and unlawful absence from school. In accordance with the Code of Alabama, the parent/guardian is responsible for requiring any student under his/her control or charge and under 17 years of age to attend school (Policy: 5.43).

EARLY WARNING TRUANCY PREVENTION PROGRAM (EWTPP)

The Early Warning Truancy Prevention Program (EWTPP) requires that a weekly report be submitted to the attendance office for all students between the ages of 6 and 17 having unexcused absences. The student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) may be invited to attend this meeting. The team will discuss strategies/develop a plan of action for addressing the student's truancy issues. Once the plan is implemented, if the student continues to have unexcused absences, the student is referred for EWTPP. Upon the occurrence of a fifth unexcused absence, the parents/guardians and student are required to attend an EWTPP conference at the Juvenile Court. At the conference, the parents/guardians and student are informed of the State’s compulsory attendance laws, court procedures, and consequences of further unexcused absences (Policy: 5.43).