Attendance Policy for High Schools

ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR GRADES 9-12

Regular attendance is an integral part of the learning process. The purpose of this policy is to provide uniformity of student attendance and the subsequent consequences for absenteeism among high schools in the Edmond District.

1. Students are allowed no more than nine (9) absences per class per semester. An absence is defined as missing more than fifteen (15) minutes of any part of class time. Parents are expected to notify the school when the student is absent. Parent phone calls or written notifications will be accepted for contact to the school.

2. Official documentation in the areas of medical, judicial, religious or family emergency must be submitted in order for the absence not to be counted toward the nine (9) absences per semester. A doctor's release or court document are examples of documentation.

3. On the tenth (10th) absence a student will receive a "no credit" on his/her transcript for the semester. If the student is passing at the end of the semester, he/she will receive a No Credit (N/C) for the class in which the absence limit has been exceeded. If he/she is failing, the failing grade will be recorded. If the student chooses to continue not to attend class, then he/she will fall under the discipline policy and may be suspended from school for noncompliance with a school policy.

4. In case of extenuating circumstances, the principal or his/her designee may intervene.

5. The school will send out attendance letters on the fourth (4th) and seventh (7th) absence. On the tenth (10th) absence a N/C (no credit) letter will be sent.

6. Three (3) tardies equal one (1) absence. A student is considered tardy if he/she is not in the classroom when the bell rings.

Make-up Work

1. Students have one (1) day to make up work for each day they are absent, plus one (1) more day to make up work they missed. In the event a student may need more time, arrangements with the appropriate school personnel must be made within the previously- mentioned allotted time.

2. If the missed work is not made up in the allotted time, a zero (0) will be recorded for each missing assignment.

3. In the event of an extended illness (two (2) weeks or more), arrangements may be made for homebound instruction. These arrangements are made through the student's counselor.

Attendance Incentive: Semester Exam Exemption

Students with no more than three (3) absences, and no more than three (3) tardies in ALL classes are eligible to exempt from one semester exam of their choice. Students must have at least a "B" average in the class of exemption to be eligible. Students who have been suspended or missed one class due to truancy during the semester are not eligible for test exemptions.

Unless there is parent notification to the school, exempted students are expected to be present on review and test days.

Students will be notified the week prior to finals if they qualify for an exemption. Those students qualifying for exemption will be issued an exemption pass that can be used in one of the six/seven classes in which they have a "B" average or above.

This exemption/attendance incentive will apply for ninth grade, tenth grade, eleventh grade and first semester seniors.

The following absences COUNT AGAINST the exemption:
Medical (M) Family Emergency (F)
Judicial (J)*

The following absences DO NOT COUNT AGAINST the exemption:
State School Activity (X) Religious (R)
School Activity (A) AISP (S)
In School Activity (N) Death immediate family (D)***
College Visit (V)**

Seniors, during the second semester, will be exempt from semester exams based on the following absentee and grade record per each class for second semester:

Semester Absences Semester Grade Average
3 A

2 B

1 C

Students may opt to take the semester examination. However, the student must accept the risk that his/her semester grade may be lowered by the test score. The decision to take the test must be made the day prior to the examination.

* Court ordered subpoena may be an exception.
** Juniors will be allowed two days and seniors will be allowed four days for college
visits. These days will not be counted against exemptions or attendance. The
student must apply for college visit days in writing in advance of the visit and must
provide documentation of the visit upon return to school.
*** Family is defined as parent or stepparent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin