JCBE/POLICY FILE: 443.1

Approved: 8/31/78

STUDENT ABSENCES

Because the Jefferson County Board of Education has the responsibility of ensuring that every student between the ages of seven and sixteen receives an education, it shall be the policy of the Board to require all school age students under its jurisdiction, except those legally excluded from this requirement as established by state statutes and

JCBE/POLICY FILE: 441, to attend the public schools of the Jefferson County School System.

A student who is absent from school without prior request from parents and permission from the principal or a designee of the principal must present a written explanation of the absence from the parent, guardian or other person having control of the student to the school officials as soon after the absence as possible. A total of nine absences per semester shall be considered the maximum number of absences allowed for a student to receive credit for a class or course. Decisions regarding more than nine absences per semester may be modified by verified physician's medical excuses or by verified religious absences. Three tardies or early departures shall equal one absence.

In order to prevent absences from having a negative effect upon the student's educational progress and to meet the legal requirement that each student receive a minimum of175 days of instruction, a student shall have the opportunity to make up any examinations or work which occurred during the student's excused absence. Make-up work should be completed as soon as possible after returning to school. It shall be the responsibility of the student or the student's parents or guardian to arrange with the teacher to make up work. The teacher may request the student to make up work after school hours. In such cases a day's notice shall be given the student to arrange transportation.

The following are considered excused absences for which make-up work is permissible:

1. Student too ill to attend school as certified by the physician after four days of absence

2. Inclement weather as announced by local news media makes it dangerous for students to attend school

3. Legal quarantine

4. Death in the immediate family

5. Emergency condition as determined by superintendent or principal

6. Absence with prior written permission of principal or a designee and written consent of parents

7. Absence to observe traditional religious holidays, of local, national or international origin.

When a student knows in advance that an absence is forthcoming, the student shall ask permission in writing, at least one week prior to the absence, to be excused. Absences for religious events shall be verified by the student's minister on a form provided by the Student Services Department. The physician's letterhead shall be the accepted form to verify absence due-to illness.

During summer school, a student shall have the opportunity to make up any examinations or work which occurred during the student's excused absence of two days only in a three-week session.