Attendance Matters

Leon County’s attendance policy is distributed to each student the first week of school. Students are expected to attend every class, every day, on time, prepared to work with the appropriate attitude. The school maintains records of all student attendance, including absences, tardiness and early dismissals. The teachers’ online records are the official record that determines the number of absences for each student. Students attending an administratively recognized school function will be considered present for attendance purposes.

Absences: The policies for high school attendance allow a maximum of three absences per nine week grading period. Absences may be excused for illnesses, medical care, medical appointments, legal reasons or death in the family. Documentation from the family or medical care provider may be used to excuse these absences. Absences for religious holidays, higher education visits, or other educational experiences must be arranged before the days away from school occur. Leon County Schools publishes a list of approved religious holidays and provides a form to request permission to be absent for observance of these special days. Higher education visits must be prearranged with the institution of interest and must be preapproved by the administration one week before the absence followed by the submission of appropriate documentation from the higher education institution. Other educational experiences such as work during legislative sessions, appropriate extended family trips, etc. must be preapproved by the administration a minimum of one week before the absence. Additional documentation may be required upon return from the absences.

Unexcused Absences: An unexcused absence is any absence which has not been properly documented under guidelines stated above. Students will receive a failing grade for any class that has four or more unexcused absences per nine week grading period. Absences totaling ten or more for any semester require documentation from medical or legal sources to be excused.

Documenting Absences: Absences should be documented the day the student returns to school. Notes should be hand delivered to the attendance office, attached to an email or faxed (488-1821). Documentation must be provided within five school days of the return to school.

Signing Out: Students who leave campus before the end of the day must be signed out by the approved adult through by the attendance office. Parents must be contacted by phone by the attendance office staff in order for students to sign themselves out. Leaving campus without signing out is considered “skipping” and the absences are recorded as “unexcused”. Students who do not return from lunch are considered “skipping” and the absences are recorded as “unexcused”.

Appeals: Students who have unexcused absences that result in attendance failures may appeal to have the earned grade restored. Students are to contact the attendance office to request an appeal. Mr. Lightfoot will meet with the student and parents to consider a contract that will allow the student to show a change in his or her pattern of attendance. Mr. Lightfoot will consider the nature of the absences, the student’s attitude and conduct during the conference, and the student’s commitment to change.

Tardy / Late: Students are marked tardy if they report for class after the tardy bell rings. Being marked tardy four times in one class for a nine week grading period will result in an unexcused absence. Reporting to class ten minutes or more after the tardy bell rings results in the student being marked “late” which is the equivalent of an unexcused absence.

Senior Skip Days: “Senior skip days” do not exist. Students who are absent on any student-initiated skip day will be considered “skipping” and the absence will be recorded as “unexcused”.

Hall Passes: When students are outside the classroom during a class period, they are responsible for having their agenda book signed by the teacher indicating the student’s time of departure and purpose for being out of class. Students are not allowed to use electronic devices, be at the snack machine, or the parking lots during class time.

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