All,
On Tuesday, August 24, 2010, I met with over 30 representatives from all schools. This group included parents, teachers, and administration. The following is a revised draft of a proposed attendance plan. I will be next meeting with administrators on September 10, 2010, and discussing final revisions before the document goes to the Board of Education Policy Committee at the end of September.
Please read, review, and comment. You can email feedback@torrington.org , cleone@torrington.org , or contact your school principal directly. Thank you for all participation in this process.
-Chris
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT
ATTENDANCE POLICY - DRAFT VERSION 8.31.2010
Policy
Regular and punctual attendance at school is required by state law. Attendance is an integral component of student success and a matter of self-discipline which will prove important later in life. Class time is an invaluable opportunity for students and teachers to interact with each other and exchange ideas. Learning experiences that occur in the classroom are considered to be meaningful and essential components of the learning process.
Responsibilities
The success of a student requires the cooperative effort of the student, parents, school, and the community. For this reason, responsibilities must be clearly defined. They are as follows:
A. Student responsibilities
1. To attend all classes and to be punctual.
2. To report directly to the appropriate office when tardy to school in accordance with school procedures.
3. To notify teachers of an anticipated absence and to make arrangements to make up work promptly upon return from an excused absence.
4. To report one's own absences or tardiness from school or class in accordance with school procedures if one is legally emancipated.
5. Students are given two school days within which to make up work for each day of an absence, except in extenuating circumstances as determined by the student/parent, teacher, and school administration.
6. Students taking vacation during scheduled instructional days should not expect teachers to provide assignments prior to that vacation.
B. Parent Responsibilities
1. To emphasize to their child the importance of regular attendance and punctuality.
2. To schedule appointments, activities, and vacations outside school hours.
3. To contact school personnel regarding an absence or tardy to school on the morning of the absence or tardy.
4. To provide the school with written documentation for excused absences prior to or during/immediately following that extended absence.
5. To communicate with the school personnel and work cooperatively to address student needs resulting in repeated or extended absences.
6. To encourage and assist the students in their efforts to make up missed work per school requirements (see A3) resulting from an absence(s).
7. Students taking vacations during scheduled instructional days should not expect teachers to provide assignments prior to that vacation. A student vacation during the instructional year will not be considered an excused absence.
C. School Responsibilities
1. To keep accurate attendance records, including a record of calls or notes regarding absences or tardies. (Faculty, staff and administration.)
2. To notify parents of unverified absences from school on the same day of the absence.
3. To take all actions necessary to ensure the success of the student which may include parent conferences, counseling, and the use of community services to address student needs.
4. To publish an assignment make-up procedure in the Student Handbook and the Faculty Handbook.
D. Community Responsibilities
1. To realize that the success of the students contributes greatly to the success of the community.
2. To encourage and verify regular school attendance as a prerequisite for student employment.
3. To encourage area businesses to refrain from allowing students to congregate during school hours.
4. To encourage all extra-curricular student appointments outside of school hours.
5. To do all that is possible under current state law to ensure that all students attend school regularly.
School Guidelines Regarding Attendance
1. Official attendance records are recorded and maintained by classroom teachers. A computerized record is kept by the school based upon teacher reports of attendance (see C1).
2. Tardiness, class cutting, or truancy are addressed through disciplinary procedures as specified in the Code of Conduct and all applicable laws.
3. Teachers and administrators will adhere to the requirements regarding make-up work due to absences as specified in all Board of Education policies and published in the Student Handbook and the Faculty Handbook.
4. Course grading practices should reflect participation in class as a grading component. Grading procedures will be presented to students and parents at the beginning of each course.
Accountability
1. The following will constitute excused absences:
a. Illness (A medical note is required after five (5) consecutive days of absence.)
b. Funeral, Wedding, Graduation, and/or Family Ceremony
c. College Visit (with documentation)
d. Religious Holidays
e. Athletic and/or School Sponsored Field Trips
2. The following accumulation of unexcused absences will result in specific consequences.
a. 7 (Seven) unexcused absences will result in a certified letter of warning from the school to the parent
b. 10 (Ten) unexcused absences will result in a certified letter of referral of the case to all age-appropriate legal services.
c. 12 (Twelve) unexcused absences will result in the student losing all age-appropriate school based activities for 45 academic days.
d. 20 (Twenty) unexcused absences will result in the student losing credit for the academic course.
e. The student or family will have the option to appeal this loss of credit to a school-based review board at the end of the academic year.
f. The attendance review board for each school will consist of no less than one administrator and two faculty members.
g. Accumulation of absences will be pro-rated for all semester classes.
3. The following commendations will be provided by each school based on excellence attendance for each academic marking period:
a. A student with a 97.5% attendance rate and no disciplinary infractions will be listed on a school “Effort List.”
b. A student with a 100% attendance rate and no disciplinary infractions will be listed on a school “Effort List With Honors.”
