Regular and punctual patterns of attendance will be expected of each student enrolled in the school
district. Students should strive to maintain a good attendance record, because there is a direct
relationship between school attendance and grades, citizenship and success in school.
It is recognized that absence from school may be necessary under certain conditions. However,
every effort should be made by students, parents/guardians, teachers and administrators to keep
absences and tardiness to a minimum.
Frequent absences of students from regular classroom learning experiences disrupt the continuity of
the instructional process. The benefit of regular classroom instruction is lost, and cannot be entirely
regained. The school cannot teach students who are not present. The entire process of education
requires a regular continuity of instruction, classroom participation, learning experiences and study
in order to reach the goal of maximum educational benefits for each individual student. The regular
contact of the students with one another in the classroom and their participation in well-planned
instructional activities under the supervision of a competent teacher are vital to this purpose.
The superintendent, with the assistance of the administrative and professional staff, shall establish
rules, regulations and procedures for student attendance within the district. Such rules and
regulations shall be published in the various student and parent/guardian handbooks, and shall be
subject to review by the Board of Education. Irregular student attendance shall be checked by the
building principal or his or her designee to determine the cause of absence. Causes for absences may
be obtained by telephone calls, verified notes from parents or guardians, contacts with other
members of the student's family, or home visits.
A comprehensive system of attendance records will be maintained for each student. Each teacher
is responsible for the accurate reporting of daily attendance in the classroom. The building principal
is responsible for supplying information to parents/guardians in regard to student absences, and for
submitting attendance information to the superintendent's office.
The district will contact the Children's Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services or the
local prosecutor in cases where the district has a reasonable suspicion that a student's lack of
attendance constitutes educational neglect on the part of the parents/guardians or that
parents/guardians are in violation of the compulsory attendance law. No such action will be taken
unless other strategies and interventions have been implemented and proven ineffective.
If a student in foster care is absent from school due to a decision by a court or child-placing agency
to change the student's placement or due to a verified court appearance or related court-ordered
activity, the grades and credit of the student will be calculated as of the date the student left school,
and no lowering of the student's grades shall occur as a result of the absence under these
circumstances.
Truancy
Students who are absent from class or school without the knowledge and consent of their
parents/guardians and the administration, or students who leave school during any session without
the consent of the principal, shall be considered truant. Students may also be considered truant if
they have accumulated excessive unjustifiable absences, even with the consent of parent/guardians.
The designated attendance officer for the district shall assist the administration when a student
attendance problem warrants additional investigation or assistance.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for
related information.
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Adopted: 09/15/1997
Revised: 04/19/2010
MSIP Refs: 6.3, 6.5, 7.7, 8.6, 8.7, 9.6
Legal Refs: §§ 167.018 - .019, .031 - .111, 171.011, .053, .151, RSMo.
Dunklin R-5 School District, Herculaneum, Missouri
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