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    ATTENDANCE:

    Regular attendance is essential to success in school. As permitted under the State Board of Education Rule 160- 5-1-.10, the Georgia Compulsory Education Law O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.1, and Forsyth County Board of Education policy, students may be excused for the following reasons:

    1. Personal illness or attendance in school that endangers a student’s health or the health of others.
    2. A serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family necessitating absence from school.
    3. A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school.
    4. The observance of religious holidays, needing absence from school.
    5. Conditions making attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety. 
    6. A scheduled medical, dental, or eye examination of the student.
    7. Registering to vote or voting.
    8. A visit, up to five school days per year, with a parent or legal guardian who is on leave from or who is being deployed to military service.

    Students shall be counted present when they are serving as a page in the Georgia General Assembly. Students who are in foster care are to be counted present at school when attending court proceedings related to their care and placement. 

    Non-school related activities and vacations are considered unexcused.

    Absences:

    The parent/guardian must submit a note, fax or email to the school’s attendance clerk within five (5) school days for an absence to be considered excused. The note must include the student’s name, the date(s) of absence(s), and the reason for the absence. It is the responsibility of the parent(s)/guardian(s) to be in communication with the student’s teacher(s) and/or office staff when a student is absent, especially when it is for more than one day. The principal may require students to present appropriate medical or other documentation upon return to school for the purpose of validating those absences are excused.

    In case of extended illness, hospitalization, or injury, the parent should apply for Hospital Homebound service. Hospital Homebound service should be applied for immediately when absences of ten (10) days or more are anticipated for the student. 

    Consequences:
    If a student has excessive absences, the student and/or the parent may be referred to the School Social Worker, Juvenile Court, State Court, and/or Department of Family and Children Services. A parent/guardian who violates the compulsory attendance law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of such penalties at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction. Each day’s absence from school is considered a violation. 

    Make-up Work:
    It is the student’s responsibility to turn in make-up work when he/she is absent from school. Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to retrieve missed lessons and work from Canvas. The student has five (5) school days to make up work. The teacher has the discretion to grant a longer period to make up work if there are extenuating circumstances. 
     
    Late Check-in or Early Check-out:
    An unexcused late check-in or early check-out is defined as any time a student arrives late to school or leaves school early for a reason other than those defined by the State Board of Education as an excused absence. Students who miss more than half of the time in any class will be considered absent for that class period. When possible, medical, and dental appointments should be made outside of school hours. If a student is being checked in or checked out for a doctor’s appointment, a parent note, physician’s note, or appointment card is required within 5 school days to be considered excused. After the tenth late check-in or early check-out, a physician’s note or appointment card is required within 5 school days to be considered excused. Elementary/Middle Students Check-in: Parents must sign their child in upon late arrival. 
    Check-out: If it is necessary for a student to check out early due to illness, the student must be assessed by the school nurse and meet assessment criteria for the school to excuse the absence. Parents may submit a note to excuse an early check-out due to illness. Students who are frequently absent, tardy, or check out early from school may be required by the school administration to provide medical documentation to validate any absence, tardy or early check-out as excused.