Hardee Senior High School Attendance Policy 2004/2005

We the administration, faculty, and staff of Hardee Senior High School believe that regular and punctual attendance of all classes is essential for success in school. Valuable material is presented in the classroom, and transmitting that material through make-up work is seldom equivalent to presence in the classroom. The goal of our policy is to encourage, motivate and reward high attendance. Through the cooperation of school personnel, parents, families, and students themselves, we believe this goal will be realized. By enrolling in a course, the student obligates him/herself to attend class regularly.

It is important that all students attend class daily. If student are absent, they miss valuable instruction time and skill that are necessary for progression to the next level. Beginning with the 1999-2000 school year, students will be allowed to miss only three (3) periods per class each nine weeks. Once a student has missed three days, a letter will be sent to the parents notifying them of the possible consequences if the student is absent one more day. If the student is absent one more day, the student will be denied credit in that particular class. Within five (5) school days of his/her return to school, a student must provide the attendance office with one of the following documents in order to the absence to be excused: hospitalization, doctor's appointment, extended illness, funeral, court ordered appearance, or a traffic accident directly involving a student. Documented absences will not be counted towards denial of credit. An abuse shall be considered unexcused when it is without parental or guardian permission, or when the parent or legal guardian consents to unnecessary absences. No makeup work is allowed for such absences. A parental note will be placed in student's file for review by the attendance committee, but does not excuse a student for an absence unless it can be considered as a necessary and legal absence. Phone calls will also be documented and will be placed in the student's file if review by the committee becomes necessary. It is possible for student who have had credit denied, to petition the Attendance Committee to have certain absences deleted from the total number. It may be necessary for a parent or guardian to appear before the Attendance Committee to have their child's case reviewed. In that case, an appointment must be made through the attendance office, and a request for Appeal form must be completed in advance. This form is available in the attendance office. A student may attend up to three (3) days of Saturday School per block to eliminate unexcused absences. Saturday school is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 1 unexcused absence = 3 hours of Saturday School.

Pre-arranged absences are to be requested at least one (1) week in advance. Students are to arrange to complete all assignments and all course content missed. Pre-arranged absences may be approved by the Attendance Administrator for educational field trips, necessary family trips, and school sponsored activities. Emergencies will be dealt with on an individual basis by the attendance committee. Pre-arranged absences will not be counted toward denial of credit if approved by an administrator or the attendance committee. If a student must leave school during a school day, he/she must sign out in the attendance office. A student must have parent/guardian permission before signing out. A student must bring documentation upon returning to school in order to be excused for the early release. A student who becomes ill during the school day should get a pass from his/her teacher and report to the nurse. Should the nurse decide to send a student home, a parent should be contacted. In a case where a parent or guardian cannot be contacted, an administrator may grant permission to leave school.