My child will be absent. How do I report it and to whom?

SPMS Excuse Form

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We know students will be absent from time-to-time; however, school attendance is essential to ensure that students are on-track and prepared to succeed.  Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways we can prepare our students for success, both in school and in life. Attendance is related to a child’s ability to succeed in all areas of school: academics, behavioral and social.

 

Why is attendance important?

• A missed day is a missed opportunity to learn

• Achieve better grades

• Develop healthy life habits

• Reduce risky behaviors

• Better chance of graduating from high school

ATTENDANCEWORKS.ORG​

 

Richland Two Attendance Policy

 

Richland Two Attendance Policy - Spanish

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Richland School District Two Attendance Policy

State law requires students in kindergarten through 12th grade to attend school a minimum of 170 of the school year’s 180 days to receive credit for the academic year.

• Student can be absent for no more than 10 days per school year.

• A note from a parent/guardian or certified medical practitioner must be submitted to the school immediately or within 5 days upon the return of the student. Failure to provide notes within 5 day time frame may result in an absence being considered as unverified.

• Student with 10 or more absences must be approved by the school principal.

• Student with 10 or more absences may result in non-promotion or noncredit in each course or grade.

• At the high school level, attendance requirements are set for each course.

 

Verified Absence

• Illness if attendance would endanger his/her health or the health of others.

  • If student has an illness that causes to be absent 5 or more days, you may make a request to apply for homebound instruction. You must have the proper form submitted from a medical practitioner

• Illness or death in the immediate family.

• A recognized religious holiday of the student’s faith.

• Medical or dental appointments; court appearances.

• Student’s participation in approved school-related activity

• Class suspensions.

• An absence will only be counted as verified if a note (medical or parent) is turned in within 5 days of the absence.

Unverified Absence

• Absent from school without the knowledge of parent/guardian.

• Absent and do not meet the conditions listed above for verified absence.

Procedures & Consequences

• Parent/guardian will be notified of an accumulation of absences.

• Parent/guardian will be notified when an Attendance Intervention Plan needs to be completed to determine how to improve future attendance.

• A student is considered truant when have 3 consecutive unverified absences or a total 5 unverified absences.

• If truant, a petition may be sent to the Richland County Family Court where the parent and/or student may be placed on a court order.

  • Parent may be fined up to $50.00 a day and /or jailed up to 30 days for each unverified absence.

  • Student between the ages of 12 and 17 will be held personally responsible for their attendance and may be sent to the Department of Juvenile Justice up to 90 days.