Attendance Policy

Hotline

It is the parent or guardian's responsibility to notify the school attendance hotline (542-8603) between 5 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. or contact the attendance office by phone (923-8811 ext. 3001) to give the reason for an absence either in advance or on the day of the absence before 8:30 a.m. More information is available in the attendance section of this book. Parents are asked not to contact students via cell phone during school hours.

Procedure for Dealing with Excessive Absences, Tardies, or Early Departures

If a student obtains ten absences, tardies, or early departures which result in a negative impact on student achievement, a referral will be submitted to Probation. Referral documentation includes:

Evidence that the school has communicated attendance concerns to the parents
An academic impact statement including grades and performance concerns
Attendance records

The student attendance policy formulated by Board of School Trustees firmly places the responsibility for regular school attendance on the student and his or her parent or legal guardian.
When absenteeism noticeably affects a student's academic or personal success or is in violation of either school board policy or state law, the school shall take such action as deemed appropriate: counsel with students and parents, require written statements from parents or guardians, suspend student, or initiate legal proceedings against students and parents.
It is the parent or guardian's responsibility to call the school attendance hotline (542-8603 between 5 P.M. and 8:30 A.M.) or the attendance office (923-8811, ext. 3001) or notify the attendance office in person of the reason for the absence either in advance or on the day of the absence before 8:30 A.M. The school reserves the right to determine if an absence is excused or unexcused.
All students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time for classes in order to derive maximum benefits from the instructional program and to develop habits of punctuality, self-discipline, and responsibility. Much more is taught in classes than can be included in examinations. The responsibility for regular school attendance rests with the students and their parents or legal guardian.
Any student who exceeds eight absences during a grading period and/or semester will receive an "NC" (no credit) in each class that is affected by the excessive absences unless time is made up in Tuesday/Thursday Excessive Absence Make-Up (TEAM). In addition, a student who misses more than five minutes of a class is considered absent from that class for the day unless the student has an admittance pass signed by a teacher, counselor, or administrator. An early dismissal may count as an absence if a student misses over five minutes of class. Such an absence may be unexcused and will count toward the excessive absence limits for that class.
Family vacations are not considered legitimate reasons for missing school, and may or may not be considered an excused absence from school, especially at quarter or semester breaks when exams are given. A planned absence form does exist for students to use to notify teachers that an extended absence will be taking place. It is not an excused absence from school. The school reserves the right to determine if an absence is excused or unexcused.

Request For Planned Absence

Students may jeopardize grade and attendance records by absence from school even if the absence is excused or exempt.

Absences may be designated as unexcused, excused, planned, and exempt. Unexcused absences are those which do not qualify as excused. Upon receiving a request for excused absence, the New Albany Floyd County Schools may designate absences due to illness, death in the family, medical or dental appointments, and other "highly extenuating circumstances" as "excused." Absences which the family schedules ahead of time may be designated "excused" only if this request form is completed, and the assistant principal designates the absence as excused.
Excused absences do count toward the allowable limit of eight absences per semester. However, unlike unexcused absences, students may make up missed work with no penalty. (Work missed during unexcused absences, such as those incurred when truant or suspended, may not be made up, and teachers will record zeroes in their grade books.)
Make-up work counted toward a student's grade in a class will be allowed only for excused absences.
Following an unplanned excused absence, students wishing to make up work must ask the teacher for such make-up work within two days after returning to school. They will be given one calendar day for each day of absence to complete the make-up work.
When an assignment made prior to an excused absence is due on the first day of that absence, students are expected to complete and turn in the assignment on the day they return to school. Tests assigned prior to an absence will be administered immediately upon a student's return to school unless other arrangements are made with the teacher prior to the student's return to school.
Before a planned absence, students must request homework assignments and complete the Request for Planned Absence form.
After a planned absence, a student must turn in homework upon return to school. Any tests that were missed need to be made up within one week of the return to school. The scheduling of such make-up tests is up to the classroom teacher.
Regardless of whether the absences are excused or not, any student who exceeds eight absences during a grading period and/or semester will receive an “NC” (no credit) in each class that is affected by the excessive absences unless time is made up in Tuesday/Thursday Excessive Absence Make-Up (TEAM). TEAM will be held from 2:45 P.M. to 5:45 P.M. on eight designated days each semester.
Some absences incurred as part of classroom or other education-oriented activities may be designated as "exempt." Exempt absences are the only ones that do not count toward the eight-absence limit. For example, juniors may be granted one and seniors may be granted two exempt absences per year for visits to college campuses. Visits to local campuses are considered excused, not exempt. Of course, missed work must still be made up.
Religious retreats are also not exempt absences for attendance records. Such retreats may be counted as excused absences which count toward the eight day limit.

Perfect Attendance

Perfect attendance awards are granted to students who have a perfect attendance record for the school year and request recognition.
Some out-of-school student activities will not count as absences. Service as a page in the state legislature, field trips, some college visitations and service at an election are activities that meet the perfect attendance restrictions (I.C. 20-33-2-14 through 20-33-2-17) and are considered exempt from the attendance policy.
Religious retreats are not exempt absences for purposes of perfect attendance. Students may not miss more than four periods of school for the year to qualify for perfect attendance. Reporting more than five minutes late to school counts as one of these periods.
Vacations, medical appointments, funerals, weddings, or reunions count against perfect attendance.

Late Arrivals

If a student is less than five minutes late to school, he or she is to report to class. If more than five minutes late, the student should sign in at the senior high attendance office and receive a late arrival pass before proceeding to class.

A student who misses more than five minutes of a class period is considered absent from that class for that day unless the student has a pass. Such an absence will be unexcused and will count toward the excessive absence limits for that class.

Students who drive to school and are tardy to school may have their driving privileges revoked. When a student is tardy for the fourth time, driving privileges will be revoked for one week.
If more than five minutes late to a class, the student may be considered truant. Under some circumstances, student may be counted both truant and absent. The school is the final authority on truancy.

Truancy

This is a year-long policy and does not start over during the school year. Truancy involving skipping one or two classes during a given day involves the following consequences:: 1st: One hour detention or four demerits for each period missed; 2nd: Same; 3rd: One day SAL and parent conference.; 4th: One day SAL; 5th: Two days SAL; 6th: One day out of school suspension and a parent conference. Student is placed on probationary contract.; 7th: As required by probationary contract
This is a year-long policy and does not start over during the school year. Truancy involving skipping the entire day or a half day of classes:: 1st: One day SAL for each full day skipped. Not to exceed three days; 2nd: Same; 3rd: Same, or Out of School Suspension; legal letter sent.; 4th: Out of School Suspension; attendance contract; parent conference; 5th: Out of School Suspension; 6th: Expulsion
Class "skip days" are unexcused and may result in a suspension. Furthermore, the school retains authority on truancy.

Early Dismissal

If a student has to leave school at any time during the school day, the following procedures are to be followed:

A note from the parent or guardian is to be brought to the attendance office on the day of the early dismissal request before 7:35 a.m. It should contain the student's name and grade, reason for early dismissal, and time for early dismissal.
The student's name and time leaving school will be placed on the day's attendance sheet under early dismissals. This is to keep teachers informed of the whereabouts of the student.
At time for dismissal, the student is to sign out in the senior high attendance office where he or she will receive a permit to leave school form.
After receiving the form the student must leave the building within five minutes.
The student must return the form to the attendance office when he or she returns to school.
Any student who misses over five minutes of class for an early dismissal will be considered absent.

Attendance And Extra-Curricular Events

Students must be in attendance for a full day the day of a school event and on the Friday before a weekend event. Students may make appeals to the principal or assistant principal for absences. A teacher's grade book is the official record of attendance.

Absences

Absences from school fall into one of five categories:

Excused-When parents and the school agree that an absence is excused, students may make up missed work. An excused absence counts toward excessive absence limits and may be made up in Tuesday/Thursday Excessive Absence Make-Up.
Unexcused-Unexcused absences are counted toward the excessive absence limits; work may not be made up.
Truancy-Truancies are unexcused absences, and they are counted toward the excessive absence limits; work may not be made up.
Out-of-school Suspension or Expulsion-Such absences are unexcused, but they are not counted toward the excessive absence limits; work may not be made up unless it would cause a student to fail the class.
Exempt-Exempt absences are counted as days of attendance for the student. Work must be made up per the policy below.

Make-Up Work After An Absence

Make-up work counted toward a student's grade in a class will be allowed for excused and exempt absences. It is the student’s responsibility to ask the teacher for make-up work within two days after returning to school following an absence. Students are allowed one calendar day for each day of absence to complete the make up work. Parents may request that student’s homework be sent home in the case of an extended illness.
Major student work assigned in advance is due as assigned and is exempt from the standard make-up policy. When an assignment made prior to an absence is due on the first day of that absence, students are expected to complete and turn in the assignment on the day they return to school. Tests assigned prior to an absence will be administered immediately upon a student's return to school unless other arrangements are made with the teacher prior to the student's return to school.

After a requested planned absence, make-up work is due immediately on return to school.
Students in partial attendance are responsible to secure homework from missed classes.
Students who are truant or suspended out of school may NOT make up missed work.

If a student needs to be excused from Physical Education for injury or illness a note is required from your parent or guardian. This note is to be presented to the health office. Time missed due to a medical excuse will have to be made up or a loss of participation points will be deducted from the student’s grade.

Excused, Unexcused And Exempt Absences

The school reserves the right to determine if the absence is excused or unexcused. Commonly accepted reasons for an excused absence are:: 1. Personal illness;; 2. Death of a close family member;; 3. Medical/dental appointments which cannot be scheduled outside the school day;; 4. Travel for a limited time period involving new educational experiences for a student which is requested, on an infrequent basis, by parent or guardian at least one week in advance of the proposed absence. A prearranged absence form should be obtained from the attendance office;; 5. Celebration of religious holidays by a student and parents or guardians; and; 6. Other highly extenuating circumstances which will be determined by the principal or his/her designee either in advance or on the day of the absence.
The following absences are exempt and will count as days of attendance for a student:: 1. Service as a page or as an honoree of the Indiana General Assembly;; 2. Service on a precinct election board or as a helper to a political candidate or a political party on the date of a general, city, town, special, or primary election. The student must have the written permission of parent or guardian and must verify performance of such services;; 3. Appearance as a witness in judicial proceedings, under subpoena;; 4. Service on active duty with the Indiana National Guard for not more than ten days in a school year-the student must verify by providing a copy of the official orders;; 5. Military intake procedures;; 6. Attending a school for religious instruction upon request of parent or guardian and approval of FCHS principal;; 7. Participation in out-of-class school-sanctioned activities with prior approval of FCHS principal or designee;; 8. Visiting a college juniors are allowed one day; seniors are allowed two days. Visits to local colleges and universities should be scheduled on non-school days or after school. Any local college visit will not be exempt.

It is the parent or guardian's responsibility to notify the school attendance office by phone or in person of the reason for the student's absence, either in advance or on the day of the absence. Messages may be left on the attendance hotline, 542-8603, between 5:00 P.M. and 8:30 A.M., or the attendance clerk may be called at 923-8811, ext. 3001, after 8:30 A.M.
Every school day missed will be counted toward the excessive absence policy except finals’ week. If a student misses at that time, he receives a grade based on the attendance policy for finals' week.
Participation in a school extra-curricular or co-curricular event is not a valid reason for missing an exam or assignment without the prior permission of the teacher giving the exam or assignment.
When a student is absent during final examination week due to travel or other avoidable circumstances, a teacher will not be expected to prepare and administer a final examination either in advance or after the end of the testing period. Unless the student's absence from the final examination is for personal illness, a death in the immediate family, or other unavoidable circumstances, he or she will receive a failing grade on the final examination. This grade will be averaged for the semester in the same manner as the grades for all other students.

Tuesday/Thursday Excessive Absence Make-Up (TEAM)

In order to improve student attendance, Floyd Central High School limits the number of days a student may be absent during the four grading periods and the two semesters of the school year. Any student who exceeds eight absences during a grading period and/or semester will receive a failing grade in each class that is affected by the excessive absences unless time is made up in Tuesday/Thursday Excessive Absence Make-Up (TEAM). TEAM will be held from 2:45 P.M. to 5:45 P.M. on scheduled dates.

TEAM Dates—2009-2010

(Notice--MOST are Tuesdays and Thursdays.) First Semester (8 offered): November 17, 19; December 1, 3, 8 10, 15, 17. Second Semester (8 offered): May 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 26.
Students who have excessive absences will be required to attend TEAM to retain the opportunity to receive credit for any class in which they have nine or more absences per semester.
All excused absences, unexcused absences, and truancies will be counted toward the excessive absence limits. Out-of-school suspensions and expulsions will not be counted toward excessive absence limits. A student may petition the assistant principal for special consideration for particular absences (waiver.)
To receive credit for TEAM attendance, a student must attend a minimum of one hour and thirty minutes. Students who fulfill this minimum will erase up to three class periods of excessive absence, as needed. However, a student may make up only one excessive absence per class (course) in any given TEAM session, and only one session of TEAM is held on a given day. A student attending TEAM for only one hour and thirty minutes must attend from 2:45 P.M. to 4:15 P.M.
Students who attend TEAM from 2:45 P.M. to 5:45 P.M. will erase up to seven periods of excessive absence. Again, students may make up only one excessive absence per class (course) in any given TEAM session.
In order to retain the opportunity to earn passing grades for the semester, students must erase all excessive absences from that semester in all classes in which excessive absences have been accumulated.
A student may not "bank" make up time. In other words, absences may not be made up before they have occurred. Students must be in attendance the entire day of TEAM to serve TEAM. Any exceptions must be approved by the principal.
Students are responsible for "keeping up to date" on their absences by communicating with each classroom teacher.

Team Rules

In TEAM students make up both time and work. FCHS staff will monitor these sessions, lending assistance with class work when needed. Students will be expected to be on time, to bring textbooks and other study materials, to remain on task, and to exhibit proper classroom behavior.

To receive credit for attending TEAM a student must observe the following rules:: 1. No eating or drinking;; 2. No talking or other disruptive behavior;; 3. No radios or other audio equipment;; 4. No note passing;; 5. No sleeping; and; 6. The student must remain on task.

A student will receive one warning for failing to follow these TEAM rules. The second offense during any TEAM session will result in dismissal from TEAM and loss of credit for that TEAM session.

Petitions For Special Consideration (WAIVERS)

Only after a student has been absent more than four days in a semester may he or she petition for special consideration not to have absences counted toward the excessive limits. This petition for special consideration must be made within 10 school days after the absence(s). Any request made after the specified ten day period will NOT be considered. The parent or guardian should notify the school at the onset of the absence. The decision to approve or deny the petition will be made by the assistant principal, and all affected parties will be informed of the decision.

Reason For Considering a Petition (WAIVER)

The Assistant Principal for Student Development may consider an extension for make up of excessive absences in the following circumstances:: 1. The absence was an excused absence; and; 2. The absence occurred after the last TEAM session or was more than one day during the week of the last TEAM session.
The Assistant Principal for Student Development will approve petitions for absences due to:: Illness/injury-diagnosis and verification of the inability to attend school, in person or in writing, by a medical doctor must accompany the petition;; Hospitalization or surgery-verification, in person or in writing, by a medical doctor must accompany the petition;; Required religious observances-verification, in person or in writing, by the primary church official (e.g., minister, priest, rabbi) must accompany the petition. Absence of students on their days of religious observances will not count against their perfect attendance records, but must be included in attendance reports.; Funeral/bereavement of close family member: parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or cousin.; Probation/court appearance/required counseling-verification, in writing, by the official responsible for such activity, must accompany the petition.

A waiver is automatically denied if an altered or falsified doctors’ note is submitted as documentation. The school may demand that the student produce a “Certificate of Incapacity” if that student has excessive absences.

Appeals Process

If the student and parent or guardian are not satisfied with the decision of the Assistant Principal for Staff Development, they may appeal that decision to the Appeals Committee within five school days of receipt of that decision. The Appeals Committee will consist of the Principal or his or her designee, a counselor, and a teacher. The committee will render a decision on all properly submitted petitions, and all affected parties will be notified of the decision. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.

Student Guide