Good student attendance enhances learning. When a student is not in school, he/she misses valuable instructional time. HCS views attendance and academic achievement as equally important and has policies, procedures, and supports designed to encourage students to attend school.

SCHOOL HOURS

The school building will not be open before 7:30 a.m. Please do not send your student to school before this time as no certified personnel are on duty. The car drop off doors adjacent to gym will close at 8:00am. At 8:00 a.m. all certified staff begun instructional time with our students. Please bring your child to the front office, an pass will be issued to him/her to walk to class. Your patience and cooperation is greatly appreciated to continue our safety routines.

The following are school hours: • Elementary (P-5): 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. There are no check-ous after 2:00 pm.

TARDIES

If a student arrives to school after the start of the school day, 8:00 a.m., the student is considered tardy. Please accompany your student to the front office so that he/she may be accounted for. We want to ensure the safety of all students! Your student will need to be signed in by an adult.

Please, if you have any special circumstances or issues that require assistance, speak with your student's teacher and communicate with an administrator. We are happy to work with you.

Alabama law requires that students ages six through 17 attend school (or be home-schooled). Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring their student attends school. Failing to do so can result in penalties, including fines and/or jail time. The Huntsville City School System will vigorously enforce the Alabama Code Section 16-28-3 regarding mandatory school attendance.

A student may have a total of 8 excused absences for illness without a doctor’s statement. After an accumulation of 8 excused absences for illness without a doctor’s statement, the student will receive unexcused absences for illness unless absences are documented with a doctor’s statement.

Absences will be excused for the following reasons: a. Personal illness without a doctor’s excuse with parent/guardian excuse b. Personal illness with a doctor’s statement c. Death in the immediate family d. Weather preventing attendance (would endanger student’s health) e. Legal requirements, such as subpoena or other required court appearance f. Legal quarantine g. Disciplinary action h. Participation in school-related activities.

Except for (g) and (h) above, parent(s)/guardian(s) must provide a written explanation of the reason(s) for each absence within two school days after each absence (or consecutive absences) to the office staff. If the written explanation is not provided within the two-day period, the absences will be unexcused.

The following provisions apply to absences during the school year.

1. Days students are absent due to out-of-school suspension shall not count as unexcused absence for the purposes of determining truancy. 2. After the 2nd Consecutive Unexcused Absence, the teacher will contact the parent/guardian by telephone, email, or robocall, and schedule a conference with the Attendance Task Force Team for interventions and strategies. 3. After 3rd Unexcused Absences, the school shall send a First Notification Letter to the parent/guardian. The letter is to include a copy of the Compulsory Attendance Law. 4. After 5th Unexcused Absences, the school shall send a School Conference Letter to the parent/guardian which requests they attend a mandatory School Conference. 5. After 7th Unexcused Absences, the school shall send a Second Notification Letter to the parent/guardian which requests they attend a mandatory Early Warning Conference. In addition, the school will email a list of parents/students invited to Early Warning and a Referral Card to the assigned truancy personnel. a

K-2 Daily Schedule Sample

7:50-8:10 Attendance/Breakfast, Bell Ringer

8:10-9:45 Math

8:50-9:20 PE

9:30-10:30 Social Studies/Science or Guidance/Library

10:35-11:05 Lunch

11:05-1:35 Literacy

1:35-2:20 Math

2:30 Dismissal

3-5 Daily Schedule Sample

7:50-8:10 Arrival and Morning Work

8:10-10:10 Literacy

10:10-10:40 PE

10:50-11:20 Music/Guidance or Literacy/Math

11:25-11:55 Lunch

12:00-1:00 Math

1:00-1:15 Recess

1:15-1:45 Math

1:45-2:20 Science/Social Studies

2:30 Dismissal