The District shall utilize the chronic absenteeism prevention and intervention plan developed by the State Department of Education . Such plan must include the means for collecting and analyzing data relating to student attendance , truancy and chronic absenteeism . The data must be disaggregated by school district , school grades and subgroups such as race , ethnicity , gender , eligibility for free and reduced priced lunches , students whose primary language is not English , and student with disabilities .
The District shall annually include in information for the strategic school profile report for each school and the District that is submitted to the Commissioner of Education , data pertaining to truancy and chronically absent children .
The Principal or his / her designee of any elementary or middle school located in a town / city designated as an alliance district may refer to the children ’ s truancy clinic established by the Probate Court serving the town / city , a parent / guardian with a child defined as a truant or who is at risk of becoming a truant . ( An attendance officer or a police officer shall deliver the citation and summons and a copy of the referral to the parent / guardian .)
Dismissal
No school , grade , or class may be dismissed before the regularly scheduled dismissal time without the approval of the Superintendent or his / her designee .
No teacher may permit any individual student to leave school prior to the regular hour of dismissal without the permission of the Principal .
No student may be permitted to leave school at any time other than at regular dismissal without the approval of the student ’ s parent / guardian . If a court official with legal permission to take custody of a child , or if a police officer arrests a student , the parent / guardian should be notified of these situations by the administration .
Revised : January 27 , 2021
Additional Information ( Grades 9-12 ) Since the classroom is the primary area where most learners experience the acquisition of knowledge , it becomes apparent that attendance in class is a valid , reasonable requirement . It is the position of the Board of Education that mandatory attendance by students is required . The following attendance procedures have been developed to encourage students and parent ( s )/ guardian ( s ) to minimize absences in order to gain the maximum benefits from daily classroom activities . Students who fail to meet their responsibilities may lose course credit .
I .
Attendance to School
1 . While the above stated reasons for absences are classified as excused , they will count toward the total number of absences when determining course credit . Suspensions from school do not count towards the total number of absences for loss of credit .
2 . Students who are participating in school sponsored activities will be considered present for attendance purposes .
3 . Students who exceed eight ( 8 ) absences in semester courses , and sixteen ( 16 ) absences in yearlong courses , will lose full course credit .
Revised 8 / 23 / 2024