Redford Union Schools

High School Attendance Policy                              

Report all absences to 313-242-4210

REDFORD UNION HIGH SCHOOL

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS AND PROCEDURES

Philosophy

The purpose of the attendance policy is to encourage regular and consistent attendance and punctuality in school by all students. There is a high correlation between good attendance, academic achievement and successful every day work experience. To foster positive work and study habits, the Redford Union High School administration and faculty believe that students must be in class in order to fully maximize their educational opportunities.

Students are expected to be on time and attend every class daily.  Daily teaching strategies, such as, interactions between students and teacher, discussions, lectures, audio-visuals, and reports cannot be duplicated outside of the classroom and constitute a valid and crucial part of course work. Furthermore, each student is expected to contribute to the daily academic activities in their classes. When a student is absent the educational experience of all students will be diminished. Regular and constant school attendance helps develop responsibility, self-discipline and fosters the skills necessary for successful every day work experiences.

Rationale

These expectations and procedures are a revision to the Board of Education policy passed in 2012.  The revision removes the possibility of not earning credit (NC) for classes where students accumulated 10 or more absences and did not pass the final exam.  The revision adds an incentive program for students with good attendance.

Former Procedures:  When a student has more than ten (10) absences to one class (combination of excused, unexcused absences and tardy equivalents), excused or unexcused in one semester, the student will be required to meet the following criteria to earn credit in the course: • A student who has greater than 10 absence equivalents, will receive their full credit and their letter grade if they earn a 75% or higher on the end of term common/comprehensive assessment and earn a passing grade. • For students who exceed 10 absence equivalents, the final exam grade will affect the final course grade as follows: o A student who exceeds 10 absence equivalents and does earn a 75% or greater on the final exam will be assigned the earned letter grade. o A student who exceeds 10 absence equivalents, does not earn a 75% or greater on the final exam, but earned a passing final calculated grade (60% or higher), will earn a No Credit (NC) in the course. o A student who exceeds 10 absence equivalents, does not earn a 75% or greater on the final exam, and does not earn a calculated grade of 60% or higher, will earn an “E” grade and no credit.

New/Updated Expectations:

All students shall be in attendance a minimum of 90% of the time. This equates to missing no more than nine (9) days per semester. Every three (3) tardies to a class will equate to one (1) absence.  Students who are absent more than 9 times per semester or 18 times per school year may be dropped from the class and/or dropped from Redford Union High School.

The following absences will not be used to determine the 90% minimum standard:

1. School-related absences
2. Religious Obligations
3. Absences due to documented funeral attendance
4. Court-mandated appearances (must have court documentation)
5. Absences documented with an original doctor’s note; the note must be given to the attendance secretary immediately upon return to school. Doctors notes must contain the date(s) the student was unable to attend school, and the doctor’s original signature.
6. Suspensions
7. Up to two (2) college visitations. The visits must be pre-approved through the student’s counselor and the attendance office. A college official’s signature on college stationery must be turned into the attendance office immediately upon return to school.

All other absences including family emergencies, vacations and truancies count toward the total limit of nine and students will not receive credit for the class activities (such as a science lab, field trip, group project, etc.) missed. However, a student will be able to make up credit for assignments and tests that are essential to the completion of the course.

Long-term illnesses and/or family emergencies that necessitate extended absences will be reviewed by the Administration to determine whether or not class requirements have been fulfilled.

Attendance Incentive Program

• Those students (9-12, 1st or 2nd semester) with no more than 4 absence equivalents, including tardies, as well as an 72.5% for the semester, may elect to not sit for the final exam in that class.

                Exceptions:

• AP, Honors and college/dual enrollment courses will require students to take final exams.
• Please note that for this incentive program, 3 tardies will be equal to one absence.

Procedure

1. Every absence should be accounted for by parents calling the school attendance office on school days between the hours of 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM at 313-242-4210. A taped recording is available to accept messages.

     2.Students reporting late must sign in at the front desk before going to class.

     3.The office will record any absence unverified by a parent within 24 hours as unexcused and the student may not be able to make up the daily assignments missed.

    4.Documentation excusing absences due to attending a funeral, college visits, and court-mandated appearances and doctors notes must be given to the office secretary the day the student returns to school. 

    5.Parents are encouraged to check Parent Connect frequently for attendance information.

    6. School-related absences must be verified by the event sponsor and a list provided to the office.

Make-up work

A student who has been absent has the responsibility for securing and completing make-up assignments.  The time allowed for make-up work shall not exceed twice the number of days absent. The teacher has a responsibility, when requested, to develop and assist in giving make-up assignments, quizzes and tests. Regular classroom assignments may not be made up when absences are unexcused.

A student with an absence due to suspension, has the responsibility for securing and completing make-up assignments, and will be allowed one day per day of absence to make-up work missed. In cases of multiple consecutive days of absences, due to suspension, a student will be allowed no more than three days to make-up missed work.

An absence does not automatically extend a due date for a class assignment. In general, daily assignments can be turned in upon the student's return to school/class. Obligations, such as term papers and classroom assignments, which have been scheduled in advance will be expected to be submitted on or before the pre-established due date unless otherwise designated by the teacher.

LATE ARRIVAL (TARDY) EXPECTATIONS AND PROCEDURES

Philosophy

Being on time is a life skill that is important to each student’s future. Schools have the responsibility to teach the importance of this skill. Tardiness of individual students interrupts instructional time. Promptness to class protects the teachers’ rights to begin instruction on time for all students.

Procedure

Students are required to be in all classes on time every day. Tardiness to class is defined as not being physically in the classroom when the bell stops ringing. Students with a legitimate pass will not be considered tardy. If for some reason the bells are inoperative, the teacher’s discretion will be used.

THREE TARDIES PER HOUR SHALL EQUAL ONE UNEXCUSED ABSENCE, WHICH SHALL COUNT TOWARD THE TOTAL LIMIT OF 9 ABSENCES PER SEMESTER. For example, if a student is tardy first hour on Monday and then again on Tuesday and Wednesday, the student has accumulated one (1) absence for first hour.

A STUDENT WILL BE CONSIDERED TARDY UP TO 10 (10) MINUTES OF MISSED CLASSED TIME.  STUDENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED ABSENT IF THEY ARE MORE THAN TEN (10) MINUTES LATE TO ANY CLASS.

Process

• The teacher will close their classroom door after the bell stops ringing.
• The teacher will record every tardy.
• Parents should check Parent Connect to monitor classroom tardiness.

Attendance Appeals

All students shall be in attendance a minimum of 90% of the time. This equates to missing no more than nine (9) days per semester. Every three (3) tardies to a class will equate to one (1) absence.  Students who are absent more than 9 times per semester or 18 times per school year may be dropped from the class and/or dropped from Redford Union High School.

When a student is in jeopardy of losing credit or being dropped from a class, the administration will contact the parent or guardian.  The parent will have the opportunity to appeal the decision.  The process is the following:

1. Within one week of notification from high school administration, the parent may initiate a request to set up an appeal hearing with the high school administration
2.  Be prepared to present explanation of ALL absences and tardiness at the time of the attendance hearing. 
3.  The student may, as a result of the attendance hearing: 
4. a. Have credit reinstated based on appropriate documentation.

        b.  Lose credit in the class receiving an “NC” for the semester, indicating credit was not  received   for the class.

         c.Be given the opportunity to take the final exam and earn a C+ which may allow their grade to be calculated.

      5.  Students should contact their guidance counselor or the attendance liaison for options to restore credit that was lost due to excessive absences. 

       6.  If a student has accumulated more than nine (9) absences and tardies (or any combination of absences and tardies totaling more than nine) and any of the absences are unexcused, the appeal may be denied.  Unexcused absences may include but are not limited to:

1.       Absences not reported by a parent within 24 hours.
2.       Absences resulting from leaving class or school without permission.