Attendance Matters!

Attendance Policies & Procedures

Florida Compulsory School Law (FS 1003.21 (1) (a)1; 2(c)) states all children who are either six (6) years of age, or who will be six (6) years old by February 1st of any school year, but who have not attained the age of sixteen (16) must attend school regularly during the entire school year. Students between sixteen (16) and eighteen (18) are also within compulsory attendance age unless a formal “Declaration of Intent to Terminate School Enrollment” has been completed, signed by the parent/legal guardian, and submitted to the school. Florida Law states that each parent or legal guardian of a child is responsible for the child’s regular school attendance (§1003.24, Fla. Stat.). Failure to attend school in a regular and timely fashion hinders the education process and may result in failing grades. Each student enrolled in a Marion County Public School is expected to attend school every day and be punctual. Schools must monitor and record excused and unexcused absences to prevent the development of a pattern of non-attendance.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

The following reasons shall be considered an excused absence when appropriate documentation is submitted to the school within three (3) days of returning to school:

1. Illness of the student (if a student is continually sick and repeatedly absent from school, the student must beunder the supervision of a medical provider in order to receive an excuse for attendance).

2. Major illness in the immediate family of the student.

3. Medical appointment including approved behavioral, occupational, and speech therapies (medical note required).

4. Religious holiday.

5. Death in the family (a maximum of (3) excused days per occurrence. A copy of the obituary or prayer card fromthe funeral can be requested).

6. Pregnancy related issues.

7. Insurmountable conditions such as extreme weather conditions and communicable disease outbreaks.

8. Head lice, a maximum of two (2) excused days per occurrence.

9. Approved school activity.

10. Court appearance by student (summons or subpoena required).

11. Attendance at a center under the Department of Children and Families supervision.

12. Significant community events with prior permission of the principal.

13. Pre-arranged absence which has been approved by the principal/designee.

14. SMA Healthcare overnight stays for crisis stabilization.

15. Arnette House sheltering

A student who has been absent five (5) or more consecutive days due to illness must present a note from a medical provider.The principal or designee may also require a medical note after ten (10) excused absences (whether they be consecutiveor sporadic) due to illness within a school year. Administrative approval/denial of a pre-arranged absence request will bebased on the student’s academic standing, the student’s attendance history, and/or the reason for the request.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Absences not included in the above list shall be unexcused. A student may be referred to School Social Work Services for intervention after they have five (5) absences, either excused or unexcused. A student may be referred to the ChildStudy Team (CST) for non-attendance when they have (§ 1003.26, Fla. Stat.):

1. Five (5) unexcused absences within a calendar month (30 calendar days) or
2. Ten (10) unexcused absences within a ninety (90) calendar day period or
3. A pattern of non-attendance is established.

If the Child Study Team finds that a pattern of non-attendance is developing, whether the absences are excused or unexcused, a meeting with the parent/legal guardian must be scheduled to identify potential remedies and assist in removing barriers.
If within 30 days after the initial Child Study Team meeting the student’s attendance remains an issue, the Attendance Team shall schedule an Attendance Remediation Meeting in which an Attendance Remediation Contract will be completed by the Attendance Specialist on the student.

TARDY TO SCHOOL AND EARLY CHECK-OUTS

Tardiness and early check-outs are disruptive to the learning environment and can have a negative
impact on student achievement. A tardy or early sign-out will only be excused due to sickness or injury, late
bus, death in the immediate family, medical, dental, or therapy appointments for student with a note from the physician/dentist, court date, religious observance, or school sponsored activities. Parents/legal guardians must provide a note for each tardy/early sign-out. Other reasons such as oversleeping, missing the school bus, etc. will be unexcused. A student is allowed three (3) unexcused tardies/early check-outs within a nine-week grading period. Thereafter, the school administration will address consequences for excessive tardiness and early sign-outs.