Attendance Matters

The following are acceptable reasons under Hamilton County Department of Education Board Policy 6.200 for excusing a student from attending school in Hamilton County Schools:

• Personal illness – Students are excused who are sick and whose attendance would be detrimental to their health and the health of other students. A physician’s statement may be required.
• Death in Immediate Family – Students may be excused for three days in the event of a death in their immediate families including mother, father, step-parent, brother, sister, or grandparent. Extenuating circumstances may require a longer period of excused absence.
• Family Illness – Students having an illness in the family which requires them to give temporary help will be excused from attendance after receipt of a physician’s statement concerning the necessity of the student’s assistance.
• Religious Holiday – Students shall be excused on special or recognized religious holidays regularly observed by that particular faith. Prior approval is required should these days occur while school is in session.
• Personal – Students who are absent for a good cause (such as a doctor or dental appointment which cannot be scheduled at times other than school hours, court appearances, etc.) may be excused upon proof of appointment. Prior approval by parent or guardian and the principal or his designee is required.
• Approved School Sponsored Activities – Students shall be marked present when participating in a school-sponsored activity away from the school building.

As stated in  Hamilton County Department of Education Board Policy 6.200,  the following outlines the process of Habitual Truancy:

District personnel will intervene to address habitual truancy using a Tiered Attendance Intervention support structure for students and their families, as detailed below.

Progressive Truancy Plan

A student who is absent five (5) days without adequate excuse shall be reported to the Director of Schools, Attendance Supervisor or his/her designee who will, in turn, provide written notice to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student’s absences or request an attendance hearing. Then, the Director of Schools shall implement the progressive truancy plan described below prior to referral to juvenile court.

Tier One

Tier One of the Progressive Truancy Plan shall apply to all students within the district and include schoolwide prevention-oriented supports to assist with satisfactory attendance. These supports shall include, but are not limited to:

1. Parents and students will be notified of attendance expectations and the Truancy Plan in the Student Handbook;
2. At three (3) unexcused absences, parents and students will be made aware of the number of absences and that five (5) unexcused absences will begin Tier Two.

Tier Two

Tier Two of the progressive truancy plan shall be implemented after the accumulation of five (5) unexcused absences but before referral to a juvenile court.

Tier Two includes:

1. A conference with the student and parent, guardian, or other person having control of the student;
2. A resulting attendance contract, to be signed by the student, parent/guardian, and the attendance supervisor/designee.

The contract shall include:

• • A specific description of the school’s attendance expectations for the student;
  • The period for which the contract is effective; and
  • Penalties for additional absences and alleged school offenses, including additional disciplinary action and potential referral to juvenile court.
  • Regularly scheduled follow-up meetings to discuss the student’s progress; and
  • A school employee shall conduct an individualized assessment detailing reasons the student has been absent from school. This employee may refer the student to counseling, community-based services, or other services to address the student’s attendance problems.

Tier Three

Tier Three shall be implemented if the interventions under Tier Two are unsuccessful.

Tier Three may consist of one or more of the following:

1. School-based community services;
2. Participation in a school-based restorative justice program;
3. Courses on Saturday or outside of school hours designed to improve attendance and behavior.

If any tier of progressive truancy intervention is unsuccessful, and the school can document that the student’s parent or guardian is unwilling to cooperate with the truancy intervention requirements outlined in the plan, the director of schools/designee may report the student’s absences to the juvenile judge without first having to implement subsequent intervention tiers, if any.