Attendance Policy

One of the most important criteria for successful achievement in school is regular and punctual attendance. A significant part of the student’s learning experiences in any given subject area is derived from classroom relationships, activities, discussions, and participation. A variety of interventions may be employed to help encourage satisfactory attendance. Students enrolled in Caņon City High School are required to attend classes in accordance with the Colorado Compulsory Attendance Law (22-33-104) and Article IX, Section 2 of the Colorado Constitution. The responsibility for attendance is shared by students, parents and school.

Parents are expected to notify the Attendance Office on the day of absence by 8:30 a.m. (269-6200). For families who do not have a phone, a parent/guardian must notify the school in writing on the day the student returns. Parents should specify the reason for the student’s absence.

Any unverified student absence will result in notification of the parent. Every effort will be made to make contact on the day of the absence by phone. The school also utilizes an "autodialer" system where the computer calls home for unverified absences. Should you receive such a call, please call the school on the next work day.

ATTENDANCE DEFINITIONS

Students, regardless of age, are considered under the guardianship of their parents/guardians unless written documentation of emancipation has been provided to the school.

General excused absences are provided to assist in meeting absences resulting from: temporary illness, injury or absences approved by the school administrator. General absences are excused absences which must have parent and administrative approval.

Three absences will be provided to each student each quarter. Absences beyond the three will be considered excessive. We believe that a student can learn more through the interaction with the teacher and other students in the class. We support this by allowing only three absences before requiring the student to make up time. On the student’s fourth absence, a letter will be sent home notifying the parent/guardian of excessive absences from class. It will indicate that the student may be in jeopardy of loosing credit due to absences. The student will arrange with the teacher how to make up the time missed. The teacher may withhold credit unless the student makes up the time they have missed. Students may be assigned additional course work or projects to recover time lost from class due to absence.

The three general absences are not provided as free days, personal days, or to be used to do work for other class responsibilities. They are provided in conjunction with Colorado State Law. Failure to meet the criteria for a general absence will result in an "unexcused" absence.

Medically excused absences are verified by a physician’s note and do not count as part of the general excused allowance.

Absences approved by the administration for educational and/or school activities, foreign travel, family emergencies or bereavement will be considered excused. These will not count towards the accumulation of generals.

Absences which are the result of being in the custody of the court or law enforcement agency are excused and will not count towards the accumulation of generals.

 

Unexcused Absences

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions under excused absences. Each unexcused absence shall be entered on the student’s record. The parents/guardians of the student shall be notified by the school office. In accordance with the law, the school may impose academic penalties which relate directly to classes missed while unexcused. In addition to any penalties issued, each unexcused absence will count against the allowable generals for the quarter.

Truancies are UNEXCUSED absences that are defined as "absent without the prior knowledge and approval of his/her parent/guardian and approved by the school." The student is out of their assigned area without permission from the teacher or administrator. Truancies are consequenced by detention, Saturday School and/or suspension. The class period missed due to a truancy results with a "zero" for the day. Make-up work will be issued; however, credit will be denied for work missed as a result of truancy.

Unexcused absences may be absences verified by a parent/guardian but not accepted by the administration as an excused absence. An example of an unexcused absence may include: haircuts, ski trips, over-sleeping or other personal business that may be taken care of outside of school hours. Make-up work will be issued; however, credit will be denied for work missed as a result of an unexcused absence.

The maximum number of unexcused absences a student may incur before judicial proceedings are initiated to enforce compulsory attendance is four per month and eight during any calendar or school year.

Hunting/College Visits

Pre-Excused absences will be considered general or excused absences if the proper procedures are followed. Students are to bring a note from their parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence three school days prior to the event. Students are to write the principal a letter explaining the reason for missing school and the educational benefits he/she will receive from this experience. The student will secure a "pre-excused absence" form for notification to their teachers. Teachers will provide the student with the expectations of the student upon their return. Pre-Excused absences are offered to assist the student in maintaining appropriate academic achievement. Every effort should be made to complete and turn in the work prior to leaving.

Make-Up Absences

Students absent from school will be expected to do make-up work. A student must request make-up work from the teacher no later than the day of his/her return to class. Students will be provided two days for every one day missed due to excused absences to make up missed assignments. Teachers will provide "alternative" learning experiences for make-up work to any student who requests it. All make-up work done excluding unexcused absences and truancies will receive academic credit. The amount, extensiveness and timelines for make-up work assigned will be at the teacher’s discretion.

Absences Due to Suspension

Absences due to suspension are not part of the cummulative number of three general absences per quarter. Student work missed during suspension from school for disciplinary reasons will be the responsibility of the student. Credit for work missed due to suspension will be issued unless the suspension was a result of inappropriate behavior in an identified classroom. To earn credit, make-up work must be received upon the student’s return to class.

Tardiness

The teacher will handle tardies to class and will carry out proper consequences. If the teacher’s corrective measures are unsuccessful, a teacher may refer the student to an administrator for additional help. Excessive tardies are considered an act of insubordination and will result in appropriate disciplinary action and parent notification.

Leaving Campus During the School Day

Students are to secure permission to leave campus from the office prior to leaving. Students must have permission from their parents/guardians. If the student leaves without prior permission from office and parent, he/she will be counted TRUANT.

If the student is ill, he/she shall report to the Nurse’s Office and secure a pass before leaving. If the nurse is unavailable, the student should report to the office. Any student not following these procedures will be considered truant.

Appointments should be made during lunch or after school, unless an emergency. In all situations, a note from the parent/guardian shall be presented to the Attendance Office prior to leaving school and verification from the doctor, dentist or court affidavit of the appointment upon return.

If a student does not return after lunch, the parent/guardian must contact the office to verify the absence before 8:30 a.m. the following school day. If verification has not been made, the absence will be considered a truancy.

 

Appeal Procedure/Extenuating Circumstances

The student who has a complaint about an absence resulting in a loss of grade or credit in a class may appeal to the Attendance Review Board (ARB). The ARB shall be composed of three (3) members appointed by the administration. Two (2) shall be teachers and one (1) shall be an administrator. Each member will have one (1) vote on the ARB. When the ARB convenes in response to a student’s request, the following four-step procedure shall be followed:

The affected student/parent presents a written request to the ARB.

The principal or designee requests the ARB to convene and informs the student of the meeting, date and time - one day in advance.

The ARB reviews the conditions and/or circumstances surrounding the appeal and considers new information and determines if the appeal is valid.

The student is informed both verbally and in writing of the ARB’s decision within three days of the hearing.

 

Withdraw Failing from Class