Attendance Policy

GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY

School attendance and class participation are critical to academic achievement and are integral to the teaching-learning process. Through regular attendance, students develop patterns of behavior essential to professional and personal success in life. Regular attendance by every student is mandatory. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for ensuring that students attend and remain at school daily. Guilford County Schools is committed to supporting students and families in their efforts to attend school every day.

LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY DEPARTURES Students are expected to be at school on time and to remain at school until dismissed. During the school day, students are expected to be present at the scheduled starting time for each class and to remain until the class ends. When a student must be late to school or leave school early, a written excuse signed by a parent or guardian should be presented upon the student’s arrival at school. Tardies or early departures may be excused for any of the reasons listed below in Section C. No student may leave school after arrival on campus except with the permission of a designated school official and in accordance with the school’s established sign-out procedures.

LAWFUL (EXCUSED) ABSENCES Parents and guardians are requested to contact school officials immediately when unanticipated absences occur. When a student must miss school, an explanation of the absence must be communicated, by any method reasonably designed to achieve notice to the student’s teacher or attendance office official as soon as possible and within three days of the student’s return. Absences due to extended illnesses may also require a statement from a health care practitioner. All anticipated periods of absence should be reported to school officials prior to the period of absence and must receive prior approval in advance from the school principal or designee in order to be considered an excused absence.

An absence may be lawful/excused for any of the following reasons:

1. personal illness or injury that makes the student physically unable to attend school;

2. isolation ordered by the local health officer

3. death in the immediate family

4. medical or dental appointments;

5. participation as a party or under subpoena

6. observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian, students are entitled to up to two days each academic year;

7. participation in a valid educational opportunity,

8. child care: illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child of whom the student is the custodial parent;

9. a minimum of two days each academic year for visitation with the student’s parent or legal guardian

 

UNLAWFUL (UNEXCUSED) ABSENCES All absences for reasons other than those identified under Section B, Lawful (Excused) Absences, will be deemed unlawful. Out-of-school suspension or expulsion will not be considered unlawful absence for purposes of the compulsory attendance law.

 

MAKEUP WORK In the case of excused absences, short-term out-of-school suspensions, and absences under G.S. 130A-440 (for failure to submit a school health assessment form within 30 days of entering school), the student will be permitted to make up his or her missed work. (See also policy 4110, Immunization and Health Requirements for School Admission.) Assignments missed due to participation in school-related activities also are eligible for makeup by the student. Guidelines for making up work and demonstrating mastery within a reasonable time frame shall be outlined in administrative regulations issued by the Superintendent.