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Attendance

ATTENDANCE

One of the most important things a parent or guardian can do for their child is ensure they are in school every day and on time. It is key to their learning, their success in school, and ultimately their success in life. Athens City Schools maintain an attendance policy and a truancy policy, which were written in accordance with Alabama State Board of Education Administrative Code, and §16-28-1 et seq., Code of Alabama (1975). Below are the details of those policies. If you have any other questions, please contact the attendance officer or principal. 
 
General Provisions
  • A school day is defined as 7:45 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. (AIS-7:50-2:50)
  • A full day is defined as 51% of the day.
  • Late arrivals should report to the office. Responsible party should complete the check-in process.
  • Check-outs shall be conducted through the office.
  • Any missed school will be categorized as an excused absence, excused tardy, unexcused absence, or unexcused tardy.
  • All excuse notes must be submitted to the school office within 3 days upon returning to school. 
  • Excessive absences and tardies will subject a student to truancy policies and procedures.
Absences
Excused Absences
Absences are excused for the following:
  • Illness.
  • Death in the immediate family.
  • Inclement weather which would be dangerous to the life and health of the child as determined by the principal.
  • Legal Requirements 
  • Emergency conditions as determined by the principal.
  • Prior permission of the principal upon request of the parent or legal guardian.
  • Suspension.
Athens City Schools allows a student to be absent from school for any of the above reasons for five  days  per semester provided the parent has verified this in writing upon the student’s return to school. Any absence beyond five days during a semester must be confirmed by a physician’s document in order for the absence to be excused. Otherwise, absences beyond five will be considered unexcused. Each day counts as an absence and requires a note to be excused. (For example, if a child misses 2 consecutive days and a parent writes a note excusing those 2 days, it counts as 2 of the 5 parent notes for the semester). 
 
Unexcused Absences
Absences that do not fall under one of the “excused absences” categories are deemed unexcused.
The following are also deemed unexcused:
  • Failure to send a note within three (3) days of the absence.
  • Failure to secure prior approval from the principal for vacations, visits, work, or other activities.
  • Five consecutive days absent without medical or legal documentation. If five or more days are missed in a row, there must be a medical or legal excuse.
  • Failure to provide a medical excuse after a student has accumulated five (5) absences with parent note for the semester.
Tardiness
Being late to school or checking out of school are excused or unexcused for the same reasons as absences. Habitual tardiness greatly affects a child’s progress in school. For every three accumulated tardies, one available parent excuse note will be forfeited.
 
e-Learning Days K-5 
ACS offers K-5 students, with parent/guardian request, the opportunity of up to five (5) days per semester as E-Learning Days. These days will allow students to meet their class requirements through on-line engagement/ hard copy of class material and assignments (Teacher’s Discretion) while they are away from the building.
The following are criteria for E-Learning Days:
  • Trips of educational value, safety or security of a student when parents are traveling and the student cannot be left alone, non-school related athletic competitions for future opportunities, are some examples, but are not the only occasions that may be approved.
  • Student’s parents must request these opportunities at least three (3) calendar days prior  to the 1st day of E- learning.
  • Students may not have excessive and/or unexcused absences/tardies within the school year.
  • Students may not take an E-Learning day on the first day of the school year.
  • Students must not be in need of academic support  prior to the request.
  • Students cannot have any Class II or III write-ups during the semester the request is made.
Truancy
Truancy is the habitual and unlawful absence from school. Truancy is governed by Alabama law under §16-28-1, et seq. Code of Alabama. If a child is truant, the parent or guardian can be charged under Alabama law with a criminal action in Juvenile Court.
 
Truancy is determined by unexcused absences and tardies.
 
Unexcused absences shall be addressed as follows:
  • 1 unexcused absence = parental notification by letter from the School
  • 2 unexcused absences = parental notification by letter from the School
  • 5 unexcused absences = mandatory attendance at the school’s Early Warning Meeting
  • 7 unexcused absences = a Petition is filed against the parent or guardian in the Limestone County Juvenile Court
The Early Warning meeting shall be set by the school attendance officer and is a mandatory meeting. This meeting is also an opportunity for the parent or guardian to discuss the attendance of their child with school officials, and to ask any questions regarding attendance. Failure to attend this meeting will result in an immediate Petition being filed against the parent or guardian.
 
If a Petition is filed in the Limestone County Juvenile Court against a parent or guardian for truancy, they will be required to appear before the Juvenile Court Judge. If found guilty of the charge, they shall receive a misdemeanor conviction, and may receive a fine of up to $6000 and be sentenced up to 1 year in the county jail. The parent or guardian and the student may also be ordered to participate in programs that address the issues relating to the truancy of the student.
 

WITHDRAWALS

  • Withdrawals should be completed in person.
  • Parents should notify the school office of plans for withdrawal as soon as possible prior to the student’s last day.
  • Parents should have the new school request the student’s records. The records will be mailed to the school to which the child is transferring.
  • The Immunization Card (Blue Card) may be picked up in the school office at the end of the day on the child’s last day of attendance.
  • All school property must be turned in and all charges paid.




 

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