 Attendance Policies
Attendance Office Staff
Attendance Committee According to Board Policy FDD (LOCAL), an attendance committee is required to consider extenuating circumstances for students absent from school. The principal will appoint teachers, a counselor and an administrator to serve on this important committee. Parents and students will make their appeals to these committee members. Any appeal of the attendance committee decision will be made to the Central Office.
Attendance Plan The plan for improving attendance at Bryan High School involves faculty and staff as well as administration. Communication with students and parents is required prior to disciplinary action or withdrawal from school. Communication with parents will be verbal and face-to-face if possible. Administrators will make home visits as necessary to communicate with parents. A letter will be the final resort if verbal communication
is unsuccessful.
Teachers are required to contact parents if a student misses three days class or develops a pattern of absences. Teachers submit logs of parent contacts to their appraiser. The logs will be made available to attendance committees. Administrators will assist with home visits if faculty cannot verify contact. Attendance reports are distributed weekly to administrators for early intervention with unexcused or excessive absences.
Attendance problems often result in loss of credit for students. Procedures for dealing with no grades (NG’s) have been defined to meet Board policy. Students who are not in attendance for at least 90 percent of the days class is offered will not receive credit except provided by section 25.092 of the Texas Public Education Code and in accordance with Bryan School Board Policy FDD (LOCAL). The procedures increase timely communication with students and parents. The procedures are as follows:
1. Students returning to school after an absence will give the parental note to the attendance office.
2. When a student reaches 3 absences during the semester, the teacher for that class will mail a notice to the parent or guardian.
3. When the student reaches 5 absences, the administrator for the student must mail a warning notice to the parent or guardian.
4. When a student’s attendance drops below 90 percent of the days the class is offered the administrator for the student will conference with the student and mail notice to the parent or guardian. The notice will contain the student’s attendance record and an Attendance Committee Review Form.
5. The student, parent or representative may submit an Attendance Committee Review Form to the student’s administrator requesting award of credit. Petitions for credit should be filed within seven calendar days of notice. Attendance Committee Review Forms may
not be submitted after thirty days beyond the end of the grading period.
6. The attendance committee shall review the student’s entire attendance record and the reasons for the absences and shall determine whether to award credit. Written notice shall be mailed to the parent or guardian of the decision. The attendance committee may
review the records of all students whose attendance drops below 90 percent of the days class is offered, whether or not a petition is filed. The attendance committee is required to consider extenuating circumstances for students absent from school. Eight specific extenuating circumstances are listed in Board Policy FDD (LOCAL). • Board-approved extracurricular activity or public performance subject to Board Policy FDD (LEGAL). • Required screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Medicaid-eligible students. • Documented health care appointment, if the student begins classes or returns to school on the same day as the appointment. • Temporary absence resulting from any cause acceptable to the teacher, principal, or superintendent. • Juvenile court proceeding documented by a probation officer. • Absence required by state or local welfare authorities. • Family
emergency or unforeseen or unavoidable instance requiring immediate attention. • Absences related to court-ordered visitation to a non-custodial parent.
For absences evaluated by the committee, the committee may impose conditions on the receipt of credit, such as requiring the student to: • Complete additional assignments • Attend Saturday classes • Make-up time minute for minute before or after school • Perform community service • Attend parent/student involvement activities • Complete parent/student
joint projects • Take an examination to earn credit in accordance with Board Policy EEJA
In all cases, the student must also earn a passing grade in order to receive credit. The decision of the attendance committee may be appealed to the Campus Principal. Appeals beyond the Campus Principal are directed to the Executive Director of Secondary Education (or
designee). All appeals shall be submitted in writing and handled as provided by the student complaint policies. [See FNG (LOCAL)]
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