Policy JEC – High School Attendance (June 17, 2008)

 Preamble

The River East Transcona School Division believes that regular attendance and punctuality are positive behaviors that should be fostered in our school system.  Regular attendance is necessary for a student to gain the full benefits of educational instruction.  The provincial department of education has established a minimum of 110 hours of instruction for grade 9 to grade 12 students to qualify for each credit toward high school graduation.

Under the Manitoba Public Schools Act, a child must attend school regularly until the age of sixteen.  A child who is not of compulsory school age is required to attend regularly once he/she enrolls.

Responsibility for Attendance

Responsibility for attendance rests jointly with the student and his/her parent(s)/guardian(s).

Absences:
Student absences are categorized as:

• Excused
• Explained

Absences are considered excused if the activity is initiated by the school.  Excused absences may include, but are not limited to, field trips, sports trips, special group trips, conferences, suspensions, etc.

Absences are considered explained if they are for unavoidable cause and are supported by a written note or telephone call from a parent or guardian.

An unexplained absence is an act of truancy.

 Attendance Protocol

Each high school will publicize the attendance policy and their procedures in their handbook, which will be issued to students at the beginning of the school year or at the time of registration. 

Attendance will be taken and recorded by teachers on a period-by-period basis each day.

Where the parent(s)/guardian(s) has determined that the student must be absent from school, the parent(s)/guardian(s) must inform the school prior to the scheduled time for that class or no later than one day immediately after the student’s return to school.  Students who are 18 years of age or older may phone in their own absence reasons, in lieu of their parent(s)/guardian(s).

In the case of long-term illness, the student’s absences must be supported by a medical certificate.

Excused Absences

1. After the fifth absence in a course, the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the school.
2. Upon the eighth absence in a course, a student may be withdrawn from the course or placed on an attendance contract.  Should a student be withdrawn from a course, the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the administration. Students under sixteen will be required to remain in the course but will be placed on academic probation.
3. Upon the twelfth absence, a student may be withdrawn from the course.  Appropriate educational programming will be provided for those students under 16.
4. Where exceptional circumstances warrant, such as a documented chronic illness, the school administration may grant an extension to students who have accumulated more than the number of explained absences allowed under this policy.
5. Where a student misses a test or examination due to an explained/excused absence, alternate arrangements will be made by the student/teacher/principal.  Where a final examination is missed due to illness, a medical certificate is required.
6. Where a student is suspended from school, each day of the suspension will be recorded/counted as an excused absence for attendance purposes.  While the suspension is in effect, the student will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular or school-sponsored activities. Tests or exams may be administered during this time at an alternate time and location as determined by school personnel.

 Lates

A late is defined as arriving at the classroom after the scheduled beginning of instruction.  Students are expected to be punctual for all of their classes.  A student who arrives at class late not only loses valuable instruction time, but also disrupts the learning of others. Students who arrive 40 minutes or more after class begins will not be admitted to class and will be marked absent for the class unless they present a note from the office or parent(s)/guardian(s).  Students who present a note from the office or parent(s)/guardian(s) will be marked as an explained absence for that class.

1. After five lates in a subject, the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the school.
2. Upon the eighth late, the student and parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified by the teacher by phone.
3. Upon the twelfth late, appropriate action will be taken by the school.  This may include but is not limited to detention, suspension or academic probation.

 Definitions

1. Probation Status:  Students with chronic attendance issues may be     placed on credit withheld status or on an attendance contract developed by the school. Students who are chronically late may be placed on credit withheld status.
2. Truancy:  Students whose absences have no recorded explanation will be considered truant.  Students with chronic truancies may be withdrawn from the course or placed on credit withheld status.

18 Year Old Students: FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) Regulations

Written permission from any student who reaches the age of majority during the school year is necessary prior to the release of information on their school progress.  The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act precludes schools from disclosing information on a child who has reached the age of majority. Students and parents of students who will reach the age of majority during the school year will be contacted in the month of the student’s birthday.  Students must sign a waiver form authorizing the school to continue to contact parents with information about academic progress, attendance, and behaviour.  Failure to sign the waiver form results restricted access to the information.  (For example – teachers may not contact parents directly with academic concerns unless the student has waived the privacy restrictions in writing.)