Attendance

For your child to succeed in the classroom, it is essential that your child attends school. Parents who encourage regular attendance are instilling a sense of responsibility and demonstrating their belief in the importance of education. Studies also show that students who attend school consistently enjoy greater academic success.

Whenever students are absent, for any reason, their parent/guardian must submit a signed and dated written explanation of the absence to the school upon the child’s return to school.

As permitted under state law and State Board of Education policies, students may be excused lawfully from attendance for the following reasons: illness, death in immediate family, religious holiday, instances in which attendance could be hazardous, services as page in the legislature, a court order, and absence to vote in an election. Students whose parents are in the military and are being deployed or are home on leave are allowed five (5) days of excused absences per year.

Unexcused absences will be subject to attendance investigation and can result in penalty as imposed by the Compulsory Education Law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.1) and Student Attendance Protocol Committee Law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.2).

Schools, in conjunction with the school system in which the student resides, will notify by first class mail parents of students ages 6-16 who have accumulated five (5) unexcused absences per semester and will include a copy of the summary of consequences. Schools, in conjunction with the school system in which the student resides, will notify by first class mail parents/guardian of students ages 14-17 who have accumulated seven (7) unexcused absences per school year and will include a copy of (O.C.G.A. 40-5-22), the attendance-drivers license law and a summary of consequences.