Berrien County Schools 100 E. Smith Street; P.O. Box 625 Nashville, Georgia (Fax)

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1 Bobby N. Griffin Superintendent Berrien County Schools 100 E. Smith Street; P.O. Box 625 Nashville, Georgia (Fax) August 4, 2005 RE: Attendance Policy Dear Parent/Guardian: Attached to this letter you will find a copy of Attendance Policy JB, Administrative Regulations JB-R, Notice of Possible Consequences for Excessive Unexcused Absences, and a Parent Sign-off form. These items allow Berrien County Schools to be in compliance with House Bill 1190 which was signed into law in May, Return the Parent Sign-Off Form to your child s teacher within 3 days of receiving. Please note students are required to present a written note upon returning to school in order for their absence to be considered an excused absence. In the event your son or daughter is absent from school, they must present a written note indicating the reason for the absence. The note must be delivered to the designated school official within three days of the absence. If a child has not submitted a note after three days, his/her absence will be considered unexcused. According to House Bill 1190, a parent/guardian faces a misdemeanor charge for violating Code Section when their child acquires five or more unexcused absences. Upon acquiring five unexcused absences, each school has been directed to notify the parent/guardian of the consequences for failing to comply with the compulsory attendance law. A notification will be sent for every unexcused absence thereafter. The parent must respond by signing a statement indicating receipt of the notification. Finally, parents/guardians of any student, ages 15-17, with more than 10 unexcused absences, either in the prior or current semester, will be reported to the State Department of Education immediately. Violation of the state's attendance requirements pursuant to O.C.G.A can result in the denial of driver's permits and licenses. We advise you to carefully review the attached policy and regulations reflecting the compulsory attendance law. Contact the building principal should you have any questions concerning the law and/or policy. Sincerely, Mike Bochenko Assistant Superintendent Attachments

2 Bobby N. Griffin Superintendent Berrien County Schools 100 E. Smith Street; P.O. Box 625 Nashville, Georgia (Fax) Berrien County Schools Attendance Policy JB Parent Sign-Off Form Please sign in the space below indicating you have read the Berrien County Schools Attendance Policy JB and Administrative Regulations JB-R. Return this form to your child s teacher within three days of receiving the policy and form. Carefully review the attached policy and regulations. Contact your child s principal should you have any questions concerning Georgia s Compulsory Attendance Law, Attendance Policy JB, or Administrative Regulations JB-R. Thank you. I have read and understand the provisions as outlined in the Berrien County Schools Attendance Policy JB and Administrative Regulations JB-R. I further understand it is my responsibility to provide the school a written note or documentation within three days of my child s absence in order for it to be considered an excused absence. The absence will be considered unexcused in the event a note is not submitted. Parent/Guardian Signature Date Student Signature* Date *Student signature required for Berrien Middle and Berrien High School students only.

3 Board Policy Descriptor Code: JB Student Attendance Compulsory school attendance is required of all children between the ages of six and sixteen residing within the State of Georgia. The responsibility of ensuring the regular attendance of a school child lies within the parent, guardian, or other person with whom the child resides (O.C.G.A ). In an effort to improve student attendance, the Berrien County School System has established procedures (Administrative Regulation JB-R) to address student absences from school. By September 1 of each school year or within 30 school days of a student s enrollment in the school system, the parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of such student shall sign a statement indicating receipt of possible consequences and penalties for failing to comply with compulsory attendance. In addition, students age ten or older by September 1 shall sign a statement indicating receipt of written statement of the possible consequences for noncompliance to the Berrien County Schools Student Attendance Policy and Regulations. The Superintendent, or his/her designee, shall assist in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the student attendance protocol committee. The Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Education, and school social worker shall serve on the student attendance protocol committee. The committee will convene annually to review the attendance policy and annual student attendance rates. Student attendance rates are to be reported to the State Board of Education by September 1 following each school year. All students are expected to attend classes 180 days per year. Realizing that in some cases circumstances prevent this, the following minimum standards are established: 1. A student may not be absent from any class for more than 14 days per year in grades K At Berrien County High School, where scheduling involves a two semester school term, a student may not be absent from any class more than seven days per semester. 3. For purposes of meeting attendance requirements, a student receiving instruction from a hospital/homebound teacher will be treated as if in regular attendance at school. 4. Students will be allowed to make up all work missed due to excused absences unless the absence is due to a suspension or a verified truancy. 5. The school principal is reserved the authority to take disciplinary action against students who are truant. Students shall be notified through the Berrien County Schools Code of Conduct of the definition of truancy and a summary of possible consequences and penalties for truancy, including possible dispositions for unruly children in accordance with O.C.G.A and the possible denial or suspension of a driver s license. 6. In cases involving absences in excess of 14 days per year in grades K-8, and 7 days per semester in grades 9-12, the principal reserves the authority to request excessive absences cases be reviewed by an Attendance Appeals Committee. The Appeals Committee may deem the circumstances warrant a hearing for the student and his/her parent(s) to present reasons for the excessive absences. At such time, the committee shall reiterate the consequences for excessive absenteeism. Upon completion of the hearing, credit will be awarded for courses in which a passing grade has been earned. 7. Suspension from school due to an infraction of school rules may result in denial of credit if the number of suspension days, in combination with other absences, exceeds the allowable amount. Grades and Absences Final course grades of students shall not be penalized because of absences if the following conditions are met: 1. Absences are justified and validated for excusable reasons 2. Make-up work for excused absences was completed satisfactorily. 3. The completion of an Attendance Appeals hearing regarding excessive absences. Board Policy Descriptor Code: JB Student Attendance

4 Uniform Withdrawal Criteria For the purpose of accurately measuring the academic performance of students continuously enrolled in public schools, the Berrien County Board of Education adopts the following uniform criteria for withdrawing students. 1. Appropriate school personnel are authorized to withdraw a student who: a. Has missed more than 10 consecutive days of unexcused absences; b. Is not subject to compulsory school attendance; and, c. Is not receiving instructional services through homebound instruction or instructional services required by the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). d. The superintendent or his designee shall use their best efforts to notify the parent, guardian, or other person who has charge of a student if the school system plans to withdraw such student who is younger than 18 years of age and is not subject to compulsory school attendance. 2. Appropriate school personnel are authorized to withdraw a student subject to compulsory attendance if the superintendent or his designee has determined the student is no longer a resident of the school system or is enrolled in a private school or home study program. 3. Appropriate school personnel shall withdraw students retroactive to the first day of the consecutive absences.

5 Administrative Regulation Student Attendance Descriptor Code: JB-R The following administrative procedure shall be followed by the school, students, and parents/guardians in regards to attendance. Absences A written excuse will be required when a student returns from an absence. Written notes explaining the reason for the student absence are to be retained until the end of the school year. Teachers must maintain timely and accurate attendance records reflecting absences as excused or unexcused. A dated and signed note from the parent or guardian and/or physician must be provided to the student's homeroom teacher explaining the reason for the absence within three (3) days of returning to school, otherwise, the absence will remain unexcused. I. Excused Absences 1. It is the policy of the Berrien County School Board to excuse students from school for the following reasons: A. Students who are personally ill, whose attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others, or were absent due to a medical/dental appointment; B. A serious illness or death in the immediate family of the student; C. A mandate by order of governmental agencies, including physical examinations for armed forces; D. A court appointment; E. Quarantine because of exposure to contagious disease; F. Interview for college; G. Registering to vote, or voting, not to exceed one day per year; H. Celebrating religious holidays; and, I. Conditions render attendance impossible or hazardous to health or safety. 2. All schoolwork missed due to an excused absence may be made up with no penalty attached. 3. Students are to be counted present when: A. They are in attendance at least one half of the instructional day; B. They are serving as pages of the Georgia General Assembly; C. They are attending activities under sponsorship; or D. They exempt final examinations due to exemplary attendance. 4. The principal has the jurisdiction to determine the classification of absences, and penalties for absence or tardiness. 5. School officials must show extreme care when releasing students to individuals who come to pick them up. In no case should a student be released to an unknown individual who has no proper evidence that he/she is an appropriate individual to pick up the student. Students may be released to: A. The known custodial parent or guardian; B. The known individual who was originally responsible for enrolling the student; C. A baby sitter or family member who is personally known in that capacity by the releasing school official; D. An individual with identification and legal documentation showing a court or judge order; or, E. An individual that the custodial parent or guardian has identified and reported to the school as an appropriate person to pick up a student. II. Unexcused Absences Written notice will be mailed to parents/guardians concerning the number of unexcused absences. 1. After a student acquires 5 unexcused absences a letter will be mailed to the parent/guardian. This letter will include the number of absences, a request for a parent conference, and a copy of the Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law. The notice shall outline the penalty and consequences for such absences and that each subsequent absence shall constitute a separate offense. After two reasonable attempts to notify the parent, guardian or other person who has charge of the student, the Administrative Regulation Student Attendance Descriptor Code: JB-R

6 school shall send written notice via certified mail with return receipt requested. Documentation of the letter and notice shall be forwarded to the school social worker. The parent and/or guardian are to be informed that a student accumulating a total of seven unexcused absences shall have a referral made to the Juvenile Court System. 2. The student will be referred to the School Social Worker by the submission of an attendance referral upon accruing 7 unexcused absences during the year. A copy of the student's attendance record should be attached to the referral form. The school social worker will contact the parent/guardian by phone, home visit, or letter to confirm the absences are unexcused. After two reasonable attempts to notify the parent, guardian or other person who has charge of the student, the school social worker shall send written notice via certified mail with return receipt requested. A copy of the Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law is to be included with the written notice. Written documentation of attempts to notify the parents and/or guardians must be maintained. The school social worker will file a truancy or deprivation complaint with the Juvenile or Superior Court System on any child enrolled between the ages of six and sixteen. A referral may also be made to the Department of Family and Children Services for educational neglect. III. Attendance Review Committee 1. After a student accumulates 7 excused and/or unexcused absences in a semester for grades 9-12, and 14 excused and/or unexcused absences in a school year for grades K-8, a letter shall be mailed from the school to the parents/guardians. 2. In the event of excessive absences, the student and parent/guardian must appear before the Attendance Review Committee to review the student's attendance history. 3. Absences due to suspension or verified truancy may result in credit being denied. 4. Minutes are to be kept at all hearings. 5. All Attendance Review Committee meetings must be heard prior to the end of post-planning. 6. Students and their parents and/or guardians must be prepared to provide a clear explanation as to the reasons surrounding the student's excessive absences. 7. At such time, the committee shall reiterate the consequences for excessive absenteeism. Upon completion of the hearing, credit will be awarded for courses in which a passing grade has been earned. IV. The Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act Any student, ages 15-17, with more than 10 unexcused absences, either in the prior or current semester, will be reported to the State Department of Education immediately. The Berrien County Schools will use its best efforts, including first class mail, to notify a student age 14 and older who has three absences remaining before violating the state's attendance requirements pursuant to O.C.G.A regarding the denial of driver's permits and licenses. V. Attendance, Tardies, and Checkouts for Students in Grades K Students in grades K-8 must be in class half or more of the school day to be counted present for that day. Students in grade 9-12 must be in class for half or more of the instructional period to be counted present for that class. 2. If a student accumulates five (5) or more unexcused tardies and/or early checkouts, a school administrator and/or designee will contact the student's parent/guardian by phone, letter, or home visit advising them of the number of tardies/early checkouts attributed to their child and the school's concern. 3. If a student accumulates ten (10) or more unexcused tardies and/or early checkouts, a school administrator and/or designee will contact the student's parent/guardian to inform them of a referral to the school social worker will be made if the tardies/early checkouts continue. 4. Upon accumulating fifteen (15) or more unexcused tardies and/or early checkouts, a school administrator and/or designee will make the appropriate referral to the school social worker to insure and document the parent/guardian has been contacted regarding the school's concern. The corresponding referral will be processed through the Juvenile or Superior Court System. A referral may also be made to the Department of Family and Children Services for educational neglect.

7 Berrien County Schools Notice of Possible Consequences and Penalties Regarding Five Unexcused Absences Any parent, guardian, or other person residing in the state of Georgia who has control or charge of a child or children and who shall violate Code Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of such penalties, at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction. After the child s school system notifies the parent, guardian, or other person who has control or charge of a child of five unexcused days of absence for said child, each unexcused absence from school thereafter shall constitute a separate offense and will be a violation of this Code. After two reasonable attempts to notify the parent, guardian, or other person who has control or charge of a child of five unexcused days of absence without response, the school system shall send a notice to such parent, guardian, or other person by certified mail, return receipt requested. The student will be referred to the School Social Worker by the submission of an attendance referral upon accruing 7 unexcused absences during the year. A copy of the student's attendance record should be attached to the referral form. The school social worker will contact the parent/guardian by phone, home visit, or letter to confirm the absences are unexcused. After two reasonable attempts to notify the parent, guardian or other person who has charge of the student, the school social worker shall send written notice via certified mail with return receipt requested. A copy of the Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law is to be included with the written notice. Written documentation of attempts to notify the parents and/or guardians will be maintained. The school social worker will file a truancy or deprivation complaint with the Juvenile or Superior Court System on any child enrolled between the ages of six and sixteen. A referral may also be made to the Department of Family and Children Services for educational neglect.