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Wallingford Public Schools

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Attendance Policy- Revised September 2013

Frequently Asked Questions ( Spanish Version )

This informational has been designed to help parents and students alike understand the critically important and sometimes complex policies that govern student attendance at the high school level. This has been revised in light of new mandated changes by the State Department of Education.

What should I do when my son/daughter is absent?

Please call the main office (203-294-5388) before 9:00 a.m. to notify us that your son/daughter will be out and to verify the cause of the absence. When parents do not call, every attempt is made to contact a parent to verify a student’s absence. When reporting an absence caused by a chronic illness, please let the office staff know when you call that your son/daughter has a chronic medical condition for which documentation is on file. Please remember that such documentation must be submitted annually.

What is the difference between an excused absence and an unexcused absence?

The Board identifies a number of reasons why a student may legitimately miss school, such as illness, observance of religious holidays, a death in the family, and mandated court appointments, provided that appropriate documentation has been submitted to the school. For absences 1-9, these types of absences shall be considered “excused” when a child does not attend school and appropriate documentation has been submitted within 10 days of the student’s return to school. For the 10th absence and all others thereafter, documentation from a medical professional is required for illness regardless of the length of absence. A student is charged with an unexcused absence whenever the reason for the absence is not sanctioned as part of the Board’s list of excused absences, regardless of whether the parent knew of the absence. A student is also charged with an unexcused absence if written documentation is not submitted within ten days of the date of the absence. In addition, class cuts are considered unexcused absences and will count toward the loss of credit limit.

What absences contribute toward loss of credit?

Nearly all absences—including routine illnesses verified by a doctor (i.e. viral illness, strep throat, sinus infection), DMV or court appointments, etc.—contribute toward the loss of credit limit. The only exceptions are absences necessitated as a result of a chronic medical condition and absences resulting from a major medical procedure that are verified by medical documentation. Such documentation is to be submitted to the office within ten days of the student’s return to school.

What absences do not contribute to loss of credit?

Absences due to suspension from school, participation in an authorized school activity, observance of religious holidays, or as a result of the failure of sending towns to provide transportation for nonresident students enrolled in Wallingford schools shall not be counted toward the loss of credit.

When does my son/daughter lose credit in a course?

Students lose credit in a course when they exceed limits set in Board of Education policy (5113a). Specifically, students at the high school level who are absent more than six times in a 0.5 credit course (i.e., a half year course), more than twelve times in a 1.0 credit course (i.e., a full year course), more than 16 times in a 1.5 credit course, or more than 18 times in a course that meets daily for the entire school year will lose credit for that course. Students will lose credit in a course upon the fourth “class cut” in a full year course or the third “class cut” in a half-year course. Warning letters are mailed home to parents of students approaching these limits. Students who exceed these totals will lose credit and will receive information concerning the steps to follow to appeal that loss of credit.

How does the appeals process work?

To initiate the appeals process, the student and/or parent(s) must submit a brief note requesting an attendance appeal. The appeal must be based on unusual mitigating circumstances. An Appeals Committee including the student’s assistant principal, student’s school counselor, and a teacher representative is formed. The appeals hearing is then scheduled, at which the student and/or parent(s) are allowed to present their case for why the student’s credit should be restored. Typically, a brief discussion of the situation will follow, after which the student and parent(s) are notified in writing of the committee’s decision. The committee’s decision may be further appealed directly to the principal by writing a letter presenting the arguments to be considered. The principal’s decision is final.

How does absence from school affect my son’s/daughter’s participation in extracurricular or athletic events?

Students who are absent from school on the day of an extracurricular activity (prom, homecoming dance, concert performance, etc.) or athletic event (football or soccer game, etc.) are not allowed to participate in those events. Exceptions may be approved by the school administration under extraordinary circumstances.

So what happens if I call or send a note to let you know my son/daughter is or was out sick?

The absence will be considered excused but will be counted toward the loss of credit limit.

Do I need to submit doctor’s notes even though routine illnesses still count toward loss of credit?

Per Wallingford BOE policy 5113a, for the tenth absence and all others thereafter due to illness, documentation by a medical professional is required, regardless of the length of the absence. Such documentation is to be submitted within ten school days of the date of the absence. For absences one through nine, medical documentation should be submitted if available. Keeping school staff apprised of your son’s/daughter’s medical status enables us to do a better job caring for him or her. Also, in the event that a student or parent chooses to appeal a loss of credit, such documentation, while not automatically eliminating absences, may help to establish mitigating factors for the Appeals Committee.

Will excessive absences result in my son/daughter being identified as a truant?

A student is identified as “truant” when he/she has four (4) unexcused absences in any one month or ten (10) unexcused absences in any school year. The school administration will make a concerted effort to prevent and remedy truancy in its early stages for students who are found to be truant. These efforts will include holding a meeting with appropriate school staff and the student’s parent. Please note that the Superintendent is required to bring a truant student’s case to the Superior Court under the Family with Service Needs Law (FWSN) if the parent fails to attend the required meeting with school personnel or fails to cooperate with the school administration in trying to solve the student’s truancy problem.

How does tardiness to class affect my son’s/daughter’s attendance?

Arriving to class late creates serious disruption and is therefore discouraged. If a student misses a class and is in school, such absence will be considered a class cut, unless such class absence has been authorized by a school official. On the high school level, students who arrive to school after 8:10 a.m. will be assigned a cut in their period 1A/1B class. Further, students who arrive 25 minutes or more late to class (period) without a pass are given a cut. Class cuts are considered unexcused absences and count toward the potential loss of credit.

If my son/daughter has first period study hall, can I give my permission for he/she to arrive late to school?

Only students in grades 11 and 12 are entitled to a late arrival privilege if they have a study hall period 1A and/or period 1B, and have a permission form on file signed by a parent. These students must report to school in time for the second period of the day which begins at 9:02 a.m. Failure to do so would result in disciplinary action. Students in grades 9 and 10 may not report to school late even if they have a first period study hall and parent permission. Students in grades 9 and 10 who arrive late to school face disciplinary action.

What happens when my son/daughter arrives late to school?

Students who arrive between 7:30 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. are to report directly to their period 1A/1B class. The classroom teacher will address lateness by assigning your child detention, and if the problem continues, report your child to an assistant principal for further discipline. Students who arrive after 8:10 a.m. are to report directly to the Main Office. The office staff records students’ tardies, and consequences are imposed based on the number of tardies accrued. The assistant principals contact students’ parents as needed. Students who arrive to school after 8:10 a.m. are assigned a cut in their period 1A/1B class.

If my son/daughter is dismissed early from school, can he/she return to school on the same day?

Students who are dismissed from school before the end of the school day at the request of their parent will not be permitted to return to school on that same day unless the dismissal is for a medical/dental appointment, or a court appearance and such appointment is validated in writing by the doctor/dentist or a court official. A student may also return to school if the dismissal is a result of a chronic documented medical condition.

 

If my son/daughter has last period study hall, is he/she entitled to early dismissal privilege?

Seniors may take advantage of this privilege provided that their last period is a study hall, they are in good academic standing, and they have parent permission on file in the office. Students in grades 9 through 11 are not entitled to this privilege. If students in grades 9 through 11 leave school early, even with parent permission, they will not be permitted to return to school, nor will they be permitted to attend any club, athletic, or other school function held on that day unless they have met the criteria noted in the previous question.

Who should I speak to if I have further questions?

If you have any questions regarding this or any other policy, please contact your son’s/daughter’s assigned assistant principal.

 

The attendance policy is published in the student handbook

and on the district’s website, www.wallingford.k12.ct.us.