ATTENDANCE POLICY/PROCEDURES

The Cobb County Board of Education considers regular school attendance to be essential for education success. Students shall be in attendance in accordance with the requirements of the compulsory attendance law and for the number of full length days prescribed by law.

Excuse Note Policy

1. You must bring a note from your parents by the day you return to the class you missed. If you miss a number of days in a row, one note will be acceptable for all days missed. The note must include your NAME, grade, DATE (S) of absence, REASON for absence, PARENT SIGNATURE, and PHONE NUMBER where a parent can be reached. Notes without all of the above information will cause the absence to be considered unexcused.

2. Notes must be received by the day you return to the class from which you were absent. No late notes or FAXED notes will be accepted. NO PHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

3. During the first class, the student must give the note to the teacher. The absence is coded excused if the absence is a result of the reasons listed below.

4. An admit slip, indicating whether the absence is excused or unexcused, will be given to the student which must be presented to all teachers in all classes missed. The admit slip must be presented within three days of returning to school.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

State law governs excused absences to school. A student may be excused for the following reasons:

1. Personal Illness

2. Serious Illness or Death in the Family

3. Special and Recognized religious holidays observed by his/her faith

4. Preinduction Physical Examination for service in Armed Forces

5. Court Order

6. Conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to his/her health or safety

7. Voter Registration

EXTENDED ABSENCES

After a student has missed four (4) consecutive days of school due to illness, the parent may contact the guidance office to request make up work. Work may be picked 24 hours after making the request. Long-term absences may require a homebound teacher. Required for consideration for extended absences due to family trips/activities must be submitted in writing to the grade-level administration prior to absences. If approved, the absences will be considered unexcused, but the opportunity for make-up work will be offered.

 

ABSENCE NOTIFICATION

When a student has missed 5 days in a particular class, the classroom teacher will contact the parent/guardian. When a student has missed 7 days, the student is seen by a grade-level administrator/designee and a social worker referral is sent. At 10 days of missed school, and again at 15 missed days of school, there will be a letter sent from the school regarding the absences. At 10 days of unexcused absences, a minor student (14 to 18 years of age)  will have his/her learner's permit or driver's license suspended for one year or until the minor's eighteenth birthday, whichever comes first. After 20 days absences, the student will be required to provide a doctor's note to excuse any further absences, including early dismissals. If no note is provided, the absence will be unexcused. The 10, 15, and 20 day absence rule is cumulative for the school year.

MAKE UP WORK

Make-up work is a student's responsibility. No make-up work is allowed for unexcused absences. A student may make up all work missed for excused absences only if the student presents an excused admit slip to the teacher within three days of the date he/she returns to school. A cooperative plan between the student and the teacher for the missed work must be made within four school days beginning with the date of the student's return. The teacher may require scheduled tests/long-term assignments immediately upon a student's return. A student suspended from In-School Suspension. Make-up work done outside of school must be returned on the day of the student's return to school. Exams cannot be given early.

Long Term Projects: All long term projects will have a date designated as the last day the project will be accepted by the teacher for full credit. Projects may be turned in any time prior to the designated day, but not after the date.

TARDIES

1. To be excused for being tardy to school a student must present a doctor's or dentist's official appointment verification, a note regarding student illness, or a document for a court ordered appearance at the time the student signs in to school. Tardies due to missing the bus, traffic, oversleeping, car trouble, etc. are unexcused.

2. Any student checking into school after 8:30 a.m. must sign in with the Attendance Office. If parent/guardian signs the student into school, a note must still be presented stating the reason for tardy.

NOTE: Tardies are cumulative for ALL classes/homeroom each semester.

CHECK OUT POLICY (EARLY DISMISSAL)

In an effort to provide parents with access to their children through our check out procedure during instructional time, the following guidelines are to be followed:

1. If the student is planning to check out for a prearranged reason (medical appointment that could only be scheduled during the school day, funeral attendance, court appearance) he/she must bring a note to the attendance office before first block begins (8:25 a.m.).

2. All notes from home must include the student's name, current date, a brief explanation identifying the reason for being checked out, the check out time, phone number where a parent or guardian can be reached before the check out time and the parent's signature.

3. At the designated release time, the student must go to the attendance office to sign out.

   1. Any student who leaves campus without properly checking out will receive disciplinary action and may lose his/her parking permit and driving privileges for at least 45 school days. McEachern High School is a closed campus. Students must stay on the School grounds from the time they arrive, even if school has not started, until dismissal.

   2. Any student who leaves campus must check out through the attendance office.

4. If a student becomes ill during the school day he/she should notify the teacher and secure a pass to the clinic.

5. Students must keep early dismissal passes to present to teachers for excusing absences.

6. The school reserves the right to require written requests or personal appearance of parent/guardian and proper identification before a student is dismissed.