Attendance Policy (Policy File: JBD)
Good attendance fosters responsibility; therefore, it is essential for the success of an instructional program that enables students to achieve and to reach their full potential. Children age 7 through 17 are required by law to attend school with few exceptions. Students of any age who are enrolled in LPSS K-12 public schools are subject to all LPSS policies and state laws regarding attendance. Parents are required to ensure their son/daughter maintains good attendance and will be held accountable in a court of law.

Minimum Attendance Requirements
A student is considered to be in attendance at school when he or she is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity under the supervision of authorized school personnel.

Elementary and middle school students may miss no more than 14 days per year in order to be eligible to receive credit. In the middle school, minimum attendance requirements shall be applied to every course in which the student is enrolled. Due to block scheduling, high school students can miss no more than four days in a scheduled A or B semester course or seven days in a scheduled A or B full-year course.

Truancy
A student is considered truant after the fifth unexcused absence or fifth unexcused tardy within one month or 30-day period (as per Bulletin 741). Students who are truant are reported to the LPSS Child Welfare & Attendance Department. Due process procedures begin prior to a student being referred for truancy.

Tardiness
A student is considered tardy if he or she is not present at the beginning of class/school. A student is not counted as tardy if the bus is late. (See Tardy policy for consequences.)

Approved Absences from the Standard School Setting
• Placement in a hospital or a juvenile facility providing a state-approved instructional program.
• Student participation in school-approved activities that necessitate their being away from school. Students shall be given the opportunity to make up work (i.e. field trips and competitive events.)
• College visitations by juniors and seniors (limit two per year) with prior approval of principal.
• University placement testing with prior approval of principal.
• Homebound Services - A student placed on homebound instruction by a medical doctor when he/she is unable to attend school for three weeks or more because of illness/accident, and/or a student placed on homebound by a psychologist or psychiatrist for emotional conditions will not be counted as absent. However, the parent/student should immediately apply for homebound services upon the physician’s recommendation. Applications for homebound services may be obtained through the school guidance department. Homebound instruction will begin upon the approval of the completed application by the Homebound Coordinator.

Exceptions for Absences
All other student absences shall be documented as absences in compliance with the policy of the Lafayette Parish School System and the Louisiana Department of Education. However, legal exceptions for absences will be granted under LA. R.S. 17:226.
The following are considered legal exceptions for absences. When a student is absent, one of the following forms of documentation must be presented to the school within five days upon the student’s return to class if an exception is to be granted.
• Medical or dental excuses.
• Court ordered subpoenas or other legal business documentation.
• Documentation regarding the death of a family member (i.e. death certificate, obituary – five days absence allowed).
• Documentation regarding catastrophic personal-social occurrences (i.e., flood, fire, domestic violence, and family illness in the student’s home).
• Chronic medical conditions will require a letter from a licensed health-care provider that states the condition and how it contributes to absences from school. This letter must be submitted to the school principal by the end of the first three weeks of the session or immediately after the medical condition has been diagnosed. The student’s medical situation should be discussed with the teacher and/or principal. Each time a student is absent due to the chronic condition, the parent must send a note stating that the absence was due to the diagnosed chronic medical condition.
• Head lice absences require appropriate documentation from school nurse or physician. (maximum three day absence).

Other considerations
• All written documentation must be submitted to the school within five days of the student’s return to school. AFTER FIVE DAYS, NO EXCEPTION WILL BE GRANTED. All absences in excess of the minimum attendance requirements MUST be supported by documentation.

Exception Procedures
Exceptions for excessive absences in grade K-8 will be determined by the School Building Level Committee and in grades 9-12 by the SBLC and/or the principal or designee.

Unexcused Absences
• Head lice after third day.
• Child lacking proper immunization documentation.
• Absences due to loss of bus privilege.
• Suspensions and recommended expulsions.
• Absences for which no documentation was provided.
• Absences for which the only documentation is a parent’s note (excluding chronic medical conditions)

Make-up Work for Classes Missed
After each absence from school, it is the responsibility of the student and/or parent to make arrangements to makeup work during the absence with his/her teacher. All makeup work will be completed within five school days from the day the student returns to school in grades K-8. In high school, all makeup work will be completed in six days. The teacher who assigns the makeup work will decide on the scheduling of the work.

If a student misses a midterm or final exam, proper medical/dental documentation, etc. (see Legal Exceptions for Absences) must be submitted by the parent that verifies and documents the necessity for the absence(s).

Any work missed because of suspension or recommended expulsion cannot be made up;
however, midterm and final exams are the exception.

A student attending school sponsored or endorsed activities including LPSS pullout programs, sporting events, field trips, and college or military visitations has the responsibility of obtaining all assignments and completing the work as scheduled for the class missed. For extended absences, teachers may grant exceptions, prior to the absence, for work due in his/her class.

Attendance Review Procedures (Appeals) See Code of Conduct