Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The Indian Prairie School District operates under the authority, policies and laws set forth in the School Code of the State of Illinois.

Punctual and regular attendance is important and expected.  Regular attendance in school is the joint responsibility of the student and his/her parent(s) or guardian(s).  The responsibility of District 204 schools is to provide each student with quality instruction and inform parents if their child is absent from school.

If a student must be absent, his/her parent(s) MUST notify the school attendance office prior to 10:00 a.m. on the day of the absence.

A student who knows in advance that he/she will be absent must notify the school attendance office.  At the high school level, the student must obtain an advance make-up form to present to each of his/her teachers to obtain assignments.  The completed form must be returned to the office at least 24 hours in advance of the absence.  Specifics regarding homework assignments can be found in the homework section of this handbook.

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GENERAL ATTENDANCE RULES

Any student who is tardy or who must leave school prior to regular dismissal time MUST check in and/or out with the attendance office secretary.  Otherwise, the student will be considered truant.

1. If a student misses school in order to attend a non-school function, his/her absence will be considered as unexcused unless he/she has received prior approval from his/her building principal.
2. Students participating in a contest/event will attend school the full day in order to participate. Exceptions can only be made by the building principal designee.
3. A student who has been absent for more than five (5) days for illness, must present a physician’s statement to be readmitted to class.
4. Disciplinary actions for excessive absences, unexcused absences, tardiness and truancies are outlined below.  A student’s record is cumulative and is based on a complete school year.
5. At the elementary and middle school levels, a student will be marked absent for one-half day if the student is out-of-school for more than 1.5 hours but less than 4 hours; a student will be marked absent for a whole day if the student is out-of-school for more than 4 hours.

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EXCUSED ABSENCES

The following are considered excused absences:  Illness, funeral, medical or dental appointment, and other absences for which permission has been granted in advance.

The following, even with parental consent, are considered unexcused absences:  Truancies, working, missing the bus, oversleeping, shopping, car not starting, getting senior pictures taken, keeping personal appointments, visiting out-of-town (unless excused prior to absence), college visits (unless excused prior to absence), needed at home (unless excused prior to absence), and other avoidable absences.  If there is doubt about whether an absence will be considered excused or unexcused, check in advance with the building principal.  No credit will be given for work missed due to an unexcused absence.  However, students must make up all work to meet their educational needs.

TARDINESS

Classroom teachers must record and report any student who is late to school or class as tardy.  Tardiness may result in disciplinary action.

CLASS TRUANCIES

A student is considered truant if he/she:  is on school property but does not attend classes or study lab; has any unexcused tardy to a regular class which exceeds five minutes; leaves the classroom without a signed teacher permission slip.  A student who is truant will receive no credit for work missed.  However, students must make up all work to meet their educational needs.

EXCESSIVE ABSENCES

Any student who is absent for more than twelve (12) days in any one semester will be considered as having excessive absences.  These absences do not include those that result from participation in school-sponsored trips.  At the high school level, excessive absence beyond stated limits can result in being dropped from a course with a failing grade.

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PROLONGED ABSENCE DUE TO ILLNESS

If a student is absent due to illness for more than ten (10) consecutive days, arrangements can be requested for an alternative education program.

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