Attendance PolicyI. A student shall be considered truant when absent without parental or guardian permission or when the parent(s) or legal guardian consents to unnecessary absences. II. Students shall be given a reasonable amount of time to make up any work assignments which are missed during an absence. At least one day shall be allowed for each day of missed work. A student may negotiate an alternate schedule when he/she experiences difficulty with the arrangements. Major religious holidays include: Jewish Holidays - Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shimini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Passover, Shavot. Christian Holy Days - Christmas, Epiphany, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter. The student's parent(s) or legal guardian shall give advance written notification to the school when a student will be absent for religious reasons. Students shall be given an opportunity to make up any missed examination, study, or work assignment. Excused Absences Students over compulsory attendance age shall be expected to provide documentation for an absence to be considered excused. I. After an absence, the student must provide the school with documentation indicating that one of the following has occurred if he/she wishes that absence(s) to be excused: Medical treatment by a licensed physician* Observance of a religious holiday Law enforcement order or court subpoena Death of a family member Natural disaster Traffic accident that directly involved the student. * Section 232.09, F.S. NOTE: It is understood that on every occasion of sickness, a student will not require medical attention by a licensed health care professional. Short term, non-chronic illnesses may be documented/explained via a signed parent note. In such circumstances, the student shall suffer no academic penalty, provided that all course work, examinations, etc. are made up within a reasonable period of time as defined in Section V. NOTE: Should the Principals or persons in charge of schools reasonably suspect an abuse of this provision, he/she may require documentation from a "licensed practicing physician" (M.D., O.D., D.D., D.D.S., and/or D.C., etc.) as described in F.S. 232.09 (4) as a condition for declaring the student's absence for illness excused. II. A student will be considered to be in attendance when participating in school activities or when, with permission, they are attending to school-related business. III. Attendance Office personnel will review the documentation and input any excused absence(s) into the computer for the appropriate date(s). IV. Notes excusing an absence will not be accepted 5 days after the absence. Unexcused Absences Absence from class for any reason other than those enumerated in Section II. (1-6) shall be considered unexcused. NOTE: Notification will be provided upon each absence with an automated phone call home. Credit Denial A student will lose credit in a course in which he/she has accumulated 8 unexcused absences. WSHS students who are in danger of losing credit may appear before the Attendance Appeal Committee at which time they will need to provide documentation indicating unique reasons for their absences. If the Committee places the student on an attendance contract, he will need to make up all work missed, pass the comprehensive exam and have no other absences in the course for the remainder of the semester. At 5 absences a letter of notification will be sent to the parent. V. Guidelines for make-up Work A student who is absent is required to make up all course work missed, regardless of whether the absence is excused or unexcused. It is the student's responsibility to obtain assignments upon returning to class immediately following an absence. NOTE: At a minimum, the student shall have no fewer than the number of days he/she were absent to complete and hand in make-up work for credit. Specific arrangements must be made with the student's teacher(s). Assignments given by the teacher two or more weeks (ten school days) in advance of a student's absence will be due on the assigned date. The time and place for a make-up examination(s) shall be scheduled by the teacher(s). The teacher's decision on make-up schedules shall be final. Students shall not be assessed fees for make-up opportunities. VI. DRIVER's LICENSE/ATTENDANCE POLICY According to section 322.091 of Florida Statutes, a minor is not eligible for driving privileges unless that minor is enrolled in public school, nonpublic school, or home education program and satisfies relevant attendance requirements. All students attaining age 14 within the current school year, who accumulate 15 unexcused absences in a period of 90 calendar days will be reported to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. DHSMV will submit notices to the student and parent informing them of a suspension of the student's license. The student and parent will have 15 calendar days from receipt of the notice to request a hardship waiver hearing before the principal. STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Section 230.22(2), Florida Statutes LAW IMPLEMENTED: Sections 232.0225; 232.09; 232.10, Florida Statutes |