ELMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENT ATTENDANCE POLICY
All students, regardless of age, enrolled in the Elmore County School System are required to be in
continuous attendance at their designated school. Prompt and regular attendance at school
provides students with the skills needed for future success and aids in the development of good
character. While occasional absences are unavoidable, state law places the responsibility for
regular attendance upon the parent/guardian. The Code of Alabama (16-28-15) requires that a
written note from the parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence must confirm every
absence (to include check-outs)within three school days. Failure to furnish the written
explanation for the absence may result in the student being considered truant with the
knowledge of the parent/guardian or person in control of the student. Participation in
legitimate school activities or special reasons acceptable to the principal may be excused if
permission is granted prior to the absence. Students with excused absences may make up the
work missed. Students with unexcused absences will receive zeros for the work that took place
during the unexcused absences and will not be allowed to make up the work missed.
Grades K - 6
Any student in grades K-6 who has accumulated more than 20 excused or unexcused absences
may be considered for retention. In grades K-6, when a student has accumulated seven(7)
excuses that have not been verified by a physician's statement, the student may be required,
at the discretion of the principal, to secure such a statement.
Grades 7 - 8Any student in grades 7-8 traditional schedule that has accumulated more than 10 excused or
unexcused absences may be considered for retention.
Grades 7 - 12
Students in grades 7-12 who accumulate more than 7 excused or unexcused absences in an
eighteen-week blocked class may be denied credit for that course. Students in grades 9-12 who
accumulate more than 4 excused or unexcused absences in a nine-week class may be denied
credit for that course. Required court appearances and physician-verified absences are considered
excused absences. In grades 7-12, when a student has accumulated five (5) excuses for illness
during a semester that have not been verified by a physician's statement, the student may be
required, at the discretion of the principal, to secure such a statement.
Excused Absences
Written documentation must be submitted no later than three (3) days after the student's return
to school.
1. Illness
2. Legal quarantine
3. Court-required appearance
4. Death in the immediate family
5. Inclement weather which could be dangerous to the life and health of the child
as determined by the principal
6. Emergency conditions as determined by the superintendent or principal
7. Prior permission of the principal with consent of the parent/guardian
On the day of the student's return to school, he/she must arrange with the teacher for make-up
work to be completed at a mutually agreed upon time. If the student fails to make arrangements
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or fails to meet the deadline, he/she will receive a zero for the missed work unless another
excused absence has occurred.
Students who are out of class due to college day or other approved activities should be prepared to
complete make-up work the day that they return to school.
For excused absences of five (5) consecutive days or more, consideration should be given to the
volume of make-up work required. The teachers should cooperate to establish a reasonable
schedule for submission of make-up work. Make-up work for a preceding nine weeks should be
completed within two weeks of the next nine weeks, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
(FILE: JQH Policy Manual for pregnant students)
Unexcused Absences (Make-up work not permitted)
1. Failure to register or start to school on time
2. Truancy
3. Missing a bus or ride
4. Suspension
5. Unauthorized trips, such as shopping, hunting, fishing, ball games, etc.
6. Birthdays or other celebrations
7. Any absence for which a written excuse was not provided within three (3) days
CHECK-OUT / CHECK-IN
Checkouts, check-ins, and tardies will be considered as absences from those class periods missed
and treated as any other absence (to include. (FILE: JBE Policy Manual)
1. Students who leave school for any reason must check-out through the school office
following their school's check out procedure.
2. Only persons whose names appear on the school's registration form may check out
students, unless the school receives permission in writing in advance from the
parent/guardian.
3. Written permission is to be given first by the parent/guardian or "emergency person"
shown on the school's registration form before each check-out, except in cases of sudden
illness, accident, or similar incident where telephone confirmation is the only alternative.
4. Check-ins and check-outs are considered absences in classes missed. In order to be
excused, a written explanation for the absence must be submitted when the student returns
to school and will follow the same guidelines for excused or unexcused absences in regard
to make-up work.
Parent Notification Grades K - 12
The parent/guardian must be notified in writing by the school when a student has accumulated one
(1) unexcused absence. By law, all absences that are not explained by a written excuse within
three school days, are consider truant. At that time the parent will be provided a copy of
Alabama's compulsory school attendance laws and advised of the penalties and procedures that
will be followed in the event of further unexcused absences.
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The principal or designee must notify parent/guardian with a written notice when a student has
accumulated three (3) unexcused absences. Failure to notify the parent/guardian would result in
the student continuing in good status even if absences exceed the maximum number of absences.
Upon the fifth (5th) unexcused absence, a follow-up letter and telephone call scheduling a
conference with an administrator, the parent/guardian, guidance counselor, student, and
attendance supervisor will be required. This conference should be held at the school within one
school week of the written notification. At this meeting, the parent/guardian and student will be
notified the following consequences may occur if any more unexcused absences are accumulated
during the remainder of the school year:
• Participation in the Early Warning Truancy Prevention Program provided by the juvenile
court.
• Possible referral to the Helping Families Initiative Program
• Possible retention/denial of credit
• Appearance in juvenile court
Failure to attend the school conference for five (5), or more, unexcused absences may result
in a referral to the Early Warning Truancy Prevention Program.
If a student accumulates seven (7) unexcused absences, the Elmore County Attendance
Coordinator will, within ten (10) school days, file a complaint against the parent/guardian and the
student. This will require the parent/guardian and student's attendance along with the Elmore
County Attendance Coordinator and the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer at an Early Warning
Truancy Prevention conference in the Juvenile Probation Office at the Elmore County Judicial
Building.
Failure to attend the Early Warning Truancy Prevention Program may result in a petition
being filed by the Elmore County Attendance Coordinator for the parent/guardian and
student to appear in juvenile court.
If a student accumulates an additional truancy after an Early Warning Truancy Conference or if
the parent and student do not attend a scheduled Early Warning Truancy Conference the family
may be referred to the Helping Families Initiative program. If a student accumulates two (2)
additional unexcused absences after an Early Warning Truancy Conference during the school year
for a total of at least nine (9) unexcused absences the Elmore County Attendance Coordinator
will, within ten (10) school days, file a petition for the parent/guardian and the student to appear in
juvenile court
Grades 9-12 Denial of Credit
Semester Courses
Upon the fifth (5th) unexcused absence in an eighteen-week course, a follow-up letter and
telephone call scheduling a conference with the principal, guidance counselor, student, and/or
teachers will be required. The student and the parent/guardian will be notified at the conference
that he/she may be denied credit.
If a student receives seven (7) unexcused absences in an eighteen-week course, a conference will
be held with the parent/guardian, student, and principal. At this conference the principal shall
determine if credit is to be denied.