Each teachable moment and learning opportunity of each day is extremely important. We don’t want our students to be absent unless they are sick.
Did you know that chronic absence — missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason—excused or unexcused absences – can translate into third-graders unable to master reading?
Here are five other interesting facts:
1. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.
2. Over 8 million U.S. students miss nearly a month of school each year.
3. Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. One in 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent.
4. Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back.
5. Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.
We do not want our learners to fit into any of these categories and will have frequent outreach to support our students consistent attendance at Memorial.
What is an “excused” absence in the East Hampton Public Schools?
A student’s absence from school shall be considered “excused” if written documentation of the reason for such absence has been submitted within ten (10) school days of the student’s return to school and meets the following criteria:
A. For absences one through nine, a student’s absences from school are considered “excused” when the student’s parent/guardian approves such absence and submits appropriate documentation to school officials. Such documentation includes a signed note from the student’s parent/guardian, or a note confirming the absence by the school nurse or by a licensed medical professional, as appropriate. Documentation should explain the nature of and the reason for the absence as well as the length of the absence. Separate documentation must be submitted for each incidence of absenteeism.
B. For the tenth absence and all absences thereafter, a student’s absences from school are considered excused for the following reasons:
1. Student illness (must be verified by a licensed medical professional to be deemed excused, regardless of the length of the absence);
2. Student’s observance of a religious holiday (requires signed note from the student’s parent/guardian);
3. Death in the student’s family or other emergency beyond the control of the student’s family (requires signed note from the student’s parent/guardian);
4. Mandated court appearances (requires court or legal documentation);
5. The lack of transportation that is normally provided by a district other than the one the student attends (no parental documentation required);
6. Extraordinary educational opportunities pre-approved by District administration and to be in accordance with Connecticut State Department of Education guidance.
C. A student’s absence from school shall be considered unexcused unless:
1. The absence meets the definition of an excused absence and meets the documentation requirements;
2. The absence meets the definition of a disciplinary absence, which is the result of school or District disciplinary action and are excluded from these State Board of Education approved definitions.
When the school in which a child is enrolled receives no notification from a parent or other person having control of the child is aware of the child’s absence, a reasonable effort shall be made by school personnel or volunteers under the direction of school personnel to notify by telephone and by mail such parent or other person having control of the child.
Responsibility for completion of missed classwork lies with the student, not the teacher. Unless a student has an extended illness, all make-up work will be complete within five days after the student returns to school.
What is an “excused” tardy in the East Hampton Public Schools?
A student’s tardy to school shall be considered “excused” if written documentation of the reason for such tardy has been submitted within ten (10) school days of the student’s arrival to school and meets the following criteria:
A. For tardies one through nine, a student’s tardies to school are considered “excused” when the student’s parent/guardian approves such tardy and submits appropriate documentation to school officials. Such documentation includes a signed note from the student’s parent/guardian, or a note confirming the tardy by the school nurse or by a licensed medical professional, as appropriate. Documentation should explain the nature of and the reason for the tardy.
B. For the tenth tardy and all tardies thereafter, a student’s tardies from school are considered excused for the following reasons:
1. Student illness or medical/dental appointment (must be verified by a licensed medical professional to be deemed excused, regardless of the length of the absence);
2. Student’s observance of a religious holiday or service (requires signed note from the student’s parent/guardian);
3. Crisis in the student’s family or other emergency beyond the control of the student’s family (requires signed note from the student’s parent/guardian);
4. Mandated court appearances (requires court or legal documentation);
5. Extraordinary educational opportunities pre-approved by District administration and to be in accordance with Connecticut State Department of Education guidance.
