Attendance Policy

This discipline code has been reviewed by legal counsel on July, 2003v and approved by the Lawrence County Board of Education of July, 2003.

KRS 159.150  Definition of truancy:

   Any child who has been absent from school without a valid excuse for three (3) or more days is a truant. Any child that has been reported as a truant two (2) or more times is a habitual truant.

 

KRS 159.180

    Every parent, guardian or custodian of a child ( six to eighteen) residing in any school district in this state is legally responsible for any violation of KRS 159.150 to KRS 159.170 by the child.  Parents or guardians of truant students may be fined up to $100.00 for the first offense and up to $250.00 for the second offense and sentenced to not more than 90 days in jail.

ATTENDANCE POLICY ENTRY THROUGH GRADE 8

EXCUSED Absences

1.  Personal illness or injury
2.  Death or severe illness in immediate family
3.  Medical appointments of students
4.  Religious holidays
5.  Reporting to court
6.  Transportation (Failure of bus to run)
7.  Driver's license test or examination
8.  Emergency or extreme hardship may be approved at the discretion of building principal.

 

 UNEXCUSED 

 1.  Indifference of parent or guardian
 2. Poverty
 3. Working at home or business
 4. Transportation (missed bus or car trouble)
 5.  Distance from school
 6.  Unknown by school or parent
 7.  Overslept
 8.  Out of town
 9.  Juvenile detention - jail
10  Baby-sitting
11. Childcare

    Each day's school work is important, therefore, all school work missed due to absences is to be made up under the supervision of the teacher. No credit will be given for the test missed due to an unexcused absence.  Make-up work will receive 25% credit.

1. Upon returning to school a student will bring a note from the parent or doctor explaining the reason  for the absence.

2.  A student without a note or acceptable verification will be unexcused.

3.  Parent notes for excusable absences will be accepted for  5 days that a child misses each school year.

4.  A doctor's statement is required to excuse any absence after five (5) absences have occurred.  

5.  A student who has a dental, doctor or other professional appointment or who becomes ill during the school hours may check out for the necessary time provided the parent picks up the student or gives the school permission to release the child to another adult.  Students must check out from the office before leaving, and check back in when they return to school.  This absence will be excused provided the proper steps are followed.  No student will be permitted to check out without parent permission.

 6.  Tardiness to school or class is inexcusable except in emergency situations.

7.  When a student is absent from school the school will call the home.

8.  When a student has three (3) unexcused absences, the principal will mail the parents a written notice.

9.  When a student has six (6) days unexcused absences, the principal will mail the parents a written notice and schedule a parent conference.

10.  When a child under age 16 has nine (9) unexcused absences, the principal will file a report with the Director of Pupil Personnel.  The Director of Pupil Personnel will serve a Final Notice.  Continued unexcused absences will result in action in District Court.

11.  Home instruction will be provided for any student that will be absent five (5) or more consecutive days.  Homebound statements must be picked up at the school and signed by a licensed physician.

12.  Students present with symptoms that may possibly be contagious will be sent home with a letter  recommending they be seen by a physician for diagnosis and treatment.  The physician must give the date the student may return to school, sign the form and date it.

     Before giving the letter to the student or parent, a copy should be made and given to the secretary.

    The Lawrence County Board of Education supports the use of positive reinforcements, incentives, and rewards by the Lawrence County Schools in their effort to improve regular school attendance.  Perfect Attendance is defined as having no absences as recorded on the Teacher's Daily Record of Attendance (STI).  The following reward oriented attendance programs will be conducted by the District Director of Pupil Personnel and are considered to be over and above programs conducted by the individual schools:

  1.     Perfect Attendance Certificate

  2.     District Attendance Trophy

  3.     School Attendance Plaque

  4.     Students with perfect attendance for the year will receive a Perfect Attendance Certificate.  Students missing one (1)  or two (2) days will receive a "Superior Attendance Certificate".