ATTENDANCE ( continued ) 5113
Classroom learning experiences are the basis for public school education . Time lost from class is lost instructional opportunity . The Board of Education requires that accurate records be kept of the attendance of each child , and students should not be absent from school without parental knowledge and consent .
Definitions ( related to chronic absenteeism )
Chronically absent child : An enrolled student whose total number of absences at any time during a school year is equal to or greater than ten percent of the total number of days that such student has been enrolled at such school during such school year .
Absence : An excused absence , unexcused absence , or disciplinary absence , as those terms are defined by the State Board of Education pursuant to C . G . S . 10-198b .
District chronic absenteeism rate : The total number of chronically absent children in the previous school year divided by the total number of children under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education for such school year .
School chronic absenteeism rate : The total number of chronically absent children for a school in the previous school year divided by the total number of children enrolled in such school for such school year .
Note : The use of the state approved definitions of “ excused ” and “ unexcused ” absences are for state purposes for the reporting of truancy . Districts are not precluded from using separate definitions of such absences for their internal uses such as involving decisions on areas such as promotion and grading .
A student ’ s absence from school shall be considered excused if written documentation of the reason for the absence has been submitted within ten ( 10 ) school days of the student ’ s return to school and meets the following criteria :
A .
B .
C .
For absences one through nine , a student ’ s absences from school are considered excused when the student ’ s parent / guardian approves such absence and submits appropriate documentation ; and
A student ’ s engagement in remote classes , remote meetings , activities on time-logged electronic systems , and completion and submission of assignments , if such engagement accounts for not less than one-half of the school day during remote learning is excluded from the definitions of “ excused absence ” and “ unexcused absence .”
Absence resulting from a student enrolled in grades K-12 , taking two mental health days during the school year . Such absence is to permit the student to attend to his / her emotional and psychological well-being in lieu of attending school .
The student shall not be required to present documentation or parental / guardian consent . For purposes of school year limitation , such absence shall be identified as a “ mental health wellness day .”
A student cannot take these mental health days during consecutive school days .
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