Milam K-8's Attendance, Tardy and Truancy Policy
School Attendance and punctuality are extremely important. As a school, we are responsible for making sure that students are in school every day and on time. As a parent, it is very important for you to be aware of attendance and tardy procedures and how they affect your child.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
The presence or absence of each student must be recorded each school day. Teachers follow district guidelines in coding unexcused/excused absences and tardiness.
All absences are initially marked unexcused until a note is received from the parent indicating one of the excusable absences. District attendance reporting procedures state that "failure to provide required documentation within three (3) days upon the return to school will result in an "unexcused absence."
School Board Rule 66x13 -5A-1.041 defines Excused School Absence as:
Student Illness – "Parent note is sufficient however students missing five (5) or more consecutive days of school due to illness or injury are required to provide a written statement from a healthcare provider. The written statement must include all days the student has been absent from school." If parent does not provide parent note (1-4 days) or note from doctor when child is absent for 5 or more consecutive days, all absences for those days are marked as unexcused and student will receive Zeros (0s) for all assignments.
Medical Appointments – A written statement from healthcare provider indicating the date and time of the appointment must be submitted.
Death in Family
Religious Holiday (only holidays on District’s approved list are excused)
School-Sponsored Event i.e. field trip
Subpoena by Law Enforcement Agency or mandatory court appearance
Outdoor Suspension
Head Lice is counted as an excused absence for up to three (3) days. After three (3) days, the absences are counted as unexcused.
If a student has been excluded from school due to lice or any contagious condition, they cannot return to school or be marked as present until they are deemed clear of lice or the contagious condition and can return to class.
Students granted an excused absence have the right to make up all course work within three (3) school days upon the return to school. After successful completion of all make-up assignments, the student cannot be penalized for that absence. Please note that parent/guardian must request make-up assignments. If requested by parent, make-up assignments will be provided within two (2) days by the teacher for excused absences. Failure to make-up all assignments will result in lower assessment of the student’s academic and/or effort grade.
All absences that do not fall into one of the above excused categories are to be considered UNEXCUSED. All unexcused absences will result in a zero (0) being issued for any work missed on the day of the unexcused absence.
TARDY PROCEDURES
Students in grades Pre-K, K and 1st arriving to school after 8:20 a.m. and students in 2nd-5th arriving after 8:35 a.m. will be marked tardy by their homeroom teacher. Students who arrive after 8:45 a.m. are to report to the office to clear attendance. Our tardy policy is as follows:
There will be incentives and rewards for students with good attendance and students who arrive to school on time. Research shows that good school attendance and punctuality affect a child’s success in school. We ask for your cooperation and support by making sure your child comes to school every day and on time. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the main office at (305) 822-0301.
TRUANCY PROCEDURES
Please be advised that if your child does not attend school regularly and has 15 unexcused absences, he/she will be considered truant. Florida Statue requires that a Truancy Child Study Team (TCST) meet with you to attempt to identify the reasons for your child's pattern of nonattendance and identify potential remedies after 5 unexcused absences. If your child is truant, you will be requested to attend a meeting to discuss the reasons for your child's attendance problem.
Board Policy 5200 Truancy states that "if a child does not comply with efforts to enforce school attendance, the Superintendent may file a Truancy Petition. Any student who has a total of fifteeen (15) days of unexcused absence from school within a ninety (90) calendar day period will be considered habitually absent. The Superintendet shall inform the student and parents of the record of excessive absences as well as the District's intent to notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles."
Accumulating fifteen (15) unexcused absences within a ninety (90) calendar day period will result in a complaint of truancy filed by the Department of Juvenile Justice through a social service agency.
Additionally, Florida Statue 1003.24 states that each parent of a child within the compulsory attendance age shall be responsible for each child's school attendance as required by law. The absence of a student from school is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. Florida Statue 1003.27 (7) (1) states that a parent who refuses or fails to have a minor student who is under his/her control attend school regularly shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided by law.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
The presence or absence of each student must be recorded each school day. Teachers follow district guidelines in coding unexcused/excused absences and tardiness.
All absences are initially marked unexcused until a note is received from the parent indicating one of the excusable absences. District attendance reporting procedures state that "failure to provide required documentation within three (3) days upon the return to school will result in an "unexcused absence."
School Board Rule 66x13 -5A-1.041 defines Excused School Absence as:
Student Illness – "Parent note is sufficient however students missing five (5) or more consecutive days of school due to illness or injury are required to provide a written statement from a healthcare provider. The written statement must include all days the student has been absent from school." If parent does not provide parent note (1-4 days) or note from doctor when child is absent for 5 or more consecutive days, all absences for those days are marked as unexcused and student will receive Zeros (0s) for all assignments.
Medical Appointments – A written statement from healthcare provider indicating the date and time of the appointment must be submitted.
Death in Family
Religious Holiday (only holidays on District’s approved list are excused)
School-Sponsored Event i.e. field trip
Subpoena by Law Enforcement Agency or mandatory court appearance
Outdoor Suspension
Head Lice is counted as an excused absence for up to three (3) days. After three (3) days, the absences are counted as unexcused.
If a student has been excluded from school due to lice or any contagious condition, they cannot return to school or be marked as present until they are deemed clear of lice or the contagious condition and can return to class.
Students granted an excused absence have the right to make up all course work within three (3) school days upon the return to school. After successful completion of all make-up assignments, the student cannot be penalized for that absence. Please note that parent/guardian must request make-up assignments. If requested by parent, make-up assignments will be provided within two (2) days by the teacher for excused absences. Failure to make-up all assignments will result in lower assessment of the student’s academic and/or effort grade.
All absences that do not fall into one of the above excused categories are to be considered UNEXCUSED. All unexcused absences will result in a zero (0) being issued for any work missed on the day of the unexcused absence.
TARDY PROCEDURES
Students in grades Pre-K, K and 1st arriving to school after 8:20 a.m. and students in 2nd-5th arriving after 8:35 a.m. will be marked tardy by their homeroom teacher. Students who arrive after 8:45 a.m. are to report to the office to clear attendance. Our tardy policy is as follows:
There will be incentives and rewards for students with good attendance and students who arrive to school on time. Research shows that good school attendance and punctuality affect a child’s success in school. We ask for your cooperation and support by making sure your child comes to school every day and on time. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the main office at (305) 822-0301.
TRUANCY PROCEDURES
Please be advised that if your child does not attend school regularly and has 15 unexcused absences, he/she will be considered truant. Florida Statue requires that a Truancy Child Study Team (TCST) meet with you to attempt to identify the reasons for your child's pattern of nonattendance and identify potential remedies after 5 unexcused absences. If your child is truant, you will be requested to attend a meeting to discuss the reasons for your child's attendance problem.
Board Policy 5200 Truancy states that "if a child does not comply with efforts to enforce school attendance, the Superintendent may file a Truancy Petition. Any student who has a total of fifteeen (15) days of unexcused absence from school within a ninety (90) calendar day period will be considered habitually absent. The Superintendet shall inform the student and parents of the record of excessive absences as well as the District's intent to notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles."
Accumulating fifteen (15) unexcused absences within a ninety (90) calendar day period will result in a complaint of truancy filed by the Department of Juvenile Justice through a social service agency.
Additionally, Florida Statue 1003.24 states that each parent of a child within the compulsory attendance age shall be responsible for each child's school attendance as required by law. The absence of a student from school is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section. Florida Statue 1003.27 (7) (1) states that a parent who refuses or fails to have a minor student who is under his/her control attend school regularly shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided by law.