STUDENT ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE

I. STUDENT ATTENDANCE

A. Lawful Absences
Excusable absences permitted by N.C. State Board of Education Attendance Rules:

B. Unlawful Absences
Unlawful (unexcused) absences are defined as the student's willful absences from school without the knowledge of the parents, (guardians), or the student's absences from school without justifiable causes with the knowledge of parents (guardians).

C. Homebound Placements
Homebound placements are based on medical recommendations and students are credited as in attendance when pre-approved by the appropriate official of Phoenix Academy, Inc.


D. Make-Up Work
Students are responsible for all work missed when absent from school. Immediately upon returning to school students must make arrangements with his/her teacher(s) to make up all work (assignments, tests, projects, etc.) missed while absent. 

E. Absence Documentation Requirement
All absences require a written note from the parent/guardian explaining the absence(s). The student should deliver the note to school authorities (teacher, attendance office official, etc.) as soon as possible upon his/her return to school; failure to submit such notes within 3 days after returning to school will result in an unexcused absence being recorded. Parents/guardians are requested to contact school officials immediately when extended unanticipated absences occur. All anticipated extended periods of absence should be reported to school officials previous to the period of absence. Such absences should receive prior approval by school officials. Prior approval is required for any student departing from campus once they have arrived; this approval is required throughout the school day.

F. Definition of being "in attendance"
To be considered "in attendance", a student must be present in the school for at least one-half of the school day (or one-half of the class for class attendance in secondary schools) or at a place other than the school with the approval of school officials to attend an authorized school activity. Such activities include, but may not be limited to, field trips, athletic contests or other competitions, student conventions, music festivals or concerts or similar activities approved by the school.

G. Unlawful Absence Disciplinary Actions
Unlawful absence will result in conferences with parents/guardians. Unlawful absence and/or truancy may lead to disciplinary action to include court proceedings involving parents and/or students if the student is under sixteen years of age. North Carolina statutes (G.S. 115C-378) require attendance until age 16.

THE THREE CATEGORIES OF STUDENT ABSENCES NUMBERED FROM ZERO TO TWO ARE:

Category 0/No Fault Absences
Examples of no-fault absences: Death in the immediate family, religious observances, medical/dental appointments, military obligations, chronic illness with a doctor's note on file, short-term illness with a doctor's note, other extenuating circumstances at the managing director's discretion.

Consequences: No formal consequences are applied.

Make-up time: Make-up time is not applicable.

Category 1/Excused Absences
Examples of excused absences: Illness without a doctor's note, family trips, college visits, educational opportunities, etc.

Consequences: At 4 or more excused absences per grading period a grade of 69/"F" will be awarded (lower if the student's actual grade earned is lower), unless the time missed is made up.

Make-up time: Absences may be made up hour-for-hour in a fashion approved by the student's school (see section entitled Make-up Time below).

Make-up work: Work will be received; the actual grade earned will be recorded. Work must be presented within 3 days of the student's return to school. The ultimate responsibility for make-up work lies with the student (see section entitled Suspensions for information regarding absences resulting from suspension from school).

Category 2/Unexcused Absences
Examples of unexcused absences: Truancy (skipping school or individual classes), missing school bus, work, car trouble, traffic, oversleeping, etc.

Consequences: At 3 or more unexcused absences per grading period a grade of 69/"F" will be recorded (lower if the student's actual grade earned is lower). Any applicable Student Code of Conduct consequence will also be taken.

Make-up time: None allowed.

Make-up work: Work will be received; the highest grade that will be recorded will be 69/"F" (lower if the student's actual grade earned is lower). Work must be presented within 3 days of the student's return to school.


Make-Up Time (Excused Absences Only)
Make-up time for absences will be offered at the discretion of the classroom teacher with final approval from the Managing Director.

When a violation occurs, a grade of "I" (Incomplete) will appear on the student's report card until the time available for making up time (when applicable) has expired; at that point in time the grade of "F" will replace the "I" for the grading period in question.

Parents/guardians will be notified of students being absent on the following schedule:
For excused absences notification will be given when the second and fourth excused absence occur

Caution: Parents should monitor their student's attendance closely; notifications sent by the school can follow the actual absence by a number of days due to time needed for processing, mailing, etc. Parents will receive notification under North Carolina State Statute (G.S. 115C-378).

More Important Attendance Information
Attendance notes: A note from a parent or guardian is required when students are absent. All notes are due within three days after a student's return. Failure to present a note will result in that absence being categorized as unexcused. Tardiness: Each school will design its own program for discouraging students from being late to school or class.

Field trips: Students are considered "present" in school when on field trips and other school-sponsored activities. Ask your attendance staff or school administrator when clarification is needed. Time required in class: Attendance in class for at least one-half of the class period is required for the student to be counted "present."

Suspensions: By state statute, suspensions are counted as excused absences. For suspensions of 3 days or less, suspended students must submit their make-up work within 2 days of their return to school. For suspensions of more than 3 days, make-up work must be submitted immediately upon the student's return to school. Failure to submit the work as outlined above will result in the grade of "zero" being recorded.