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Strengthening our community one student at a time.

Tardies and Attendance

TARDY POLICY:  Tardies to school or to class have consequences, as they decrease the student’s mandatory amount of instructional time set forth by the Emanuel County Board of Education.  Students are expected to be in class and seated when the 7:55 a.m. bell rings to be ready to receive instruction.  The attendance clerk will document each tardy and the following consequences will apply:

5th Tardy: One day of morning detention & parent contact

6th – 8th Tardy: Two days of morning detention, parent contact & report to school social worker

9th Tardy and beyond:    ISS determined by administration, parent meeting with attendance committee & school social worker

*Any Subsequent Tardy:  May result in suspensions or filing of a petition in Juvenile Court.

 

ATTENDANCE:  School attendance is so important that Georgia law makes it compulsory for all children ages 6 to 16 to attend public schools.  When children are excessively absent the law holds parents/guardians accountable.

For purposes of determining perfect attendance, students shall have no unexcused tardies to school, no unexcused early dismissals from school, and be present on campus all day each school day.   Students missing more than 10 days per semester in grades 9-12 and 20 days per year in grades 6-8 may not pass or advance to the next grade. 

If a student reaches the attendance limit of 10 days (HS) or 20 days (MS), they will forfeit any school-sponsored absences for the remainder of the semester/year.

 

CHECK-IN POLICY:  Any student arriving to school after 7:55 a.m. will receive an unexcused tardy without doctor documentation.  Any violation of this policy could result in disciplinary action. If a student arrives after 7:55 am, the student must receive an admittance/tardy slip from the office of the attendance clerk.

 

CHECKING OUT OF SCHOOL:  Students must never leave school without first checking out through the Office of the Attendance Clerk, Brittany Oglesby.  Parental approval is required in writing no phone calls will be accepted, before a student will be allowed to check out.  Parental Contact Information is needed for verification purposes.  Students arriving at school during the day or returning (including Dual Enrollment & Work-Based Learning) must check in at the Office of the Attendance Clerk, Mrs. Brittany Oglesby, prior to entering class. Failure to sign out will constitute truancy and will be dealt with accordingly.  The administration and faculty discourage students from leaving school during the school day. Students should try to schedule appointments which do not conflict with the school day.  If it becomes necessary for a student to check out of school, the following procedures must be followed:

  1. Persons checking out the student are to do so through the Office of Attendance Clerk.
  2. Students checking themselves out will be required to have written permission from parent or guardian, with telephone number for verification.  The notes are to be turned in to the attendance clerk.  The student will be called from class to sign out at check out time listed in note.  These notes will not be accepted if turned in after 8:00 a.m. each day.
  3. No student will be allowed to return to school that same day without doctor/dentist excuse or administrative excuse.
  4. Telephone check out request will not be accepted.  
  5. No student will be allowed to check out of school and walk off the ECI campus without administrative approval.

Emanuel County Student Attendance Protocol

2-4 Unexcused Absences

Staff intervention; staff phone contact

5 Unexcused Absences

Counselor makes contact; phone contact; letter mailed, notes sent home by student; parent conferences; discussion concerning attendance during Student Support Team (SST) meetings Individualized Educational Program (IEP) meetings.

6 Unexcused Absences

Counselor makes Social Worker Referral

10 Unexcused Absences (Grades 9 -12)

Student will not pass the class

20 Unexcused Absences (Grades 6-8)

Student will not pass the grade.

 

*3 Unexcused Tardies/Early Releases is the equivalent to 1 Unexcused Absence

 

Addendum for ECI:   ECI will have an attendance committee comprised of administrators, teachers, and the attendance clerk.  This committee will meet twice per month (more often if needed) to monitor student attendance and to ensure that proper protocol is being followed and every effort is being made to keep students in school.   The student attendance committee shall also hear appeals in cases where student’s absences are excessive.