Prairie High School Attendance Policies
Philosophy
Regular attendance is essential to the learning process. When a
student is absent, he/she misses out on valuable learning experiences. At
Prairie High School students, parents, teachers, and administrators must work
together to ensure the continuity of learning time. Therefore, attendance
procedures have been developed to maximize learning time.
Once a student has arrived on campus he/she is not allowed to leave campus without authorization from the Attendance Office.
Washington State Laws Regarding Attendance (BECCA): There are several laws that govern school attendance including the BECCA Bill, (RCW 28A.225) that is intended to reduce student truancies from school by requiring interventions such as parent conferences and referring students to the juvenile court system.
The following policy summarizes guidelines that will be followed by Prairie High School to remediate unexcused student absences in accordance with state law and Battle Ground District School Board Policy. Reference RCW 28A.225-BECCA Law, - Compulsory Attendance law, WAC 180.40.245-Short-term suspension-Conditions and limitations.
In an effort to encourage students to attend school, all attendance violations are CUMULATIVE for one school year at Prairie High School.
A. First BECCA Violation – The parent(s) and/or guardian will be notified in writing or by telephone whenever the child has failed to attend school after one unexcused absence within any month during the current school year. School officials shall inform the parents of the potential consequences of additional unexcused absences.
B. Second BECCA VIOLATION – A conference or conferences will be scheduled for the parent(s) and /or guardian(s) for the purpose of analyzing the causes of the child’s absences after two unexcused absences. The parent and student will be provided with a copy of the BECCA Law (RCW 28A.255)
C. Third and fourth BECCA Violations – The parent(s) and or guardians will be notified and the student will be assigned to contracting as a supplemental service to improve attendance. This supplemental service will be provided by the following process:
1) Schedule a parent conference.
2) Take steps to reduce the student’s absence.
3) Adjust the student’s school program of school course assignment, if appropriate.
4) Provide parent and student a copy of the BECCA Law.
D. Fifth BECCA Violation – The parent and/or guardian will be notified that a BECCA Petition with the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office will be filed. If the allegations in the fact-finding hearings are established by a preponderance of the evidence, the court shall assume jurisdiction until the end of the school year, and may extend jurisdiction longer. The District is responsible for reporting any additional unexcused absences to the court. The student will be provided supplemental services by the following:
1) Schedule a parent conference
2) Take steps to reduce the student’s absence
3) Adjust the student’s school program of school course assignment, if appropriate.
4) Provide parent and student a copy of the BECCA Law. (RCW 28A.225)
5) Compulsory attendance – If a student is absent without legitimate excuse once at Prairie High School, the truancy courts have ruled it to be the equivalent of five (5) absences. The first absence will result in a letter home and a telephone call. The second will require a parent conference, and the third may require the District to file a petition with the juvenile court seeking the court’s jurisdiction over the student’s attendance in school. Any parent found to have violated the law maybe fined up to $25.00 per day of unexcused absence and the student will be ordered to attend school The court may also order the parent and/or guardian to provide community service at the student’s school in lieu of imposing a fine. A student who fails to comply with a court order to attend school may be found in contempt of court and may be placed in juvenile detention of receive alternative sentencing from the court.
E. Seventh and Tenth BECCA Violation - After the seventh day of unexcused absence within a month or the tenth day of unexcused absence within the current school year, the school is required to report the student to Juvenile Court where actions suggested by law include detention, community service or fining parents $25.00/day.
Absences
An absence is defined as physically not present in class regardless of whether the student is excused or unexcused. It is further defined as missing 10 or more minutes of class unless the absence is due to an administrative or counseling request. Students are responsible to know each teacher's absence and work make-up policy as reflected in the class syllabus or in class discussion. A student's grade or credit may be affected by absences or tardiness when the teacher has identified participation in class as part of the instructional objectives and goals of the class and as part of the grading criteria. Absences are classified as excused, unexcused, school-related, or pre-arranged.
Excused Absences
Definition
An absence with permission of parent and/or the school. Students may be excused for the following reasons:
1. Personal illness
2. Medical appointment which cannot be made outside the regular school day.
3. Emergency family situations.
4. MISSING TEXT HERE! ". . . advance and which meet the prior arrangement criteria."
5. Scheduled court appearances.
6. School-related activities that are cleared in the attendance office by the advisor.
7. Recognized religious holidays.
Procedure
To excuse an absence, the parent/guardian must call the attendance office, or within 48 hours the student must turn in to the attendance office a written note from the parent/guardian. This note must include:
1. The reason for the absence.
2. A phone number where the parent can be contacted during the school day.
3. Date(s) of the absence.
4. Parent/guardian signature.
Make-up Work
The student will be given time equal to the number of days he/she is excused, plus one additional day, to make up missed work without penalty to grades.
Unexcused Absences
Definition
According to state regulations, all unexcused absences during the course of a student's high school career, beginning in the 2001-02 school year, will be recorded on the student's transcript. An unexcused absence includes all absences for personal reasons with parent permission that do not meet the criteria of excused absences required by school policy. Any absence that does not fall into one of the categories defined in the Excused Absences section shall be considered unexcused and thus a truancy. Students who are truant will be considered in violation of Washington State Law RCW 28A.225, and the student and his/her parent will be subject to the specific mandates of the law which are described below.
Steps Required for Unexcused Absences - Referenced in RCW 28A.225
1. A parent may call the attendance office to verify a truancy.
2. Second unexcused absence: Following a second unexcused absence, a parent conference will be held to discuss ways of eliminating/reducing the student's unexcused absences.
3. Seventh unexcused absence in a month or the tenth in a year: After the seventh unexcused absence within a month or the tenth unexcused absence within the current school year, the school is required to report the student to Juvenile Court. In compliance with the Becca Bill, unexcused absences will be processed as follows: 1) Notify parents of unexcused absences. 2) File a petition with the court system when a student accrues seven unexcused absences in one month. 3) File a petition with the court system when a student accrues ten unexcused absences in a school year.
4. Administrative options: detention may be used for making up time missed during the school day. A student's schedule may be changed if truancies are not corrected by other means.
Make-up Work
Students will not be given a grade, make-up work, or tests which were taken during an unexcused absence. Teachers may modify this at their professional discretion.
Truancy
Definition
A student who is absent without the knowledge and consent of his/her parent or is absent from school after once arriving on campus without the knowledge and consent of the school, is truant. Repeated truancy will be cause for disciplinary action, suspension, or expulsion. A student is truant if he/she:
1. Leaves school without signing out in the attendance office.
2. Is absent from school without permission of his/her parents.
3. Is absent from class without permission.
4. Obtains a pass to go to a certain place on campus and does not report there.
5. Becomes ill and goes home or stays in the restroom instead of reporting to the attendance office.
6. Fails to attend a scheduled assembly or report to a designated area.
7. Falsifies parental notes.
8. Fails to verify his/her absence within the required 48 hour limit.
9. Is involved in a class "skip" day.
School-Related Absences
Definition
School-related absences include sports competitions, field trips, teacher requests, counselor appointments, suspensions, or office requests.
Procedure
The student's responsibility is to notify the teacher of the class to be missed prior to the absence and to make up the work when appropriate.
Extended Absences
Definition
Long-term illness resulting in a student being absent from school four weeks or more.
Procedure
A home tutor is available for extended absences. A counselor must be contacted to make these arrangements.
Pre-Arranged Absences
Definition
Occasions arise where absences are necessary, but which do not fall under personal illness, medical appointments, or emergency family problems. When this is the case, the school will make every reasonable attempt to reduce the damage to the student's educational program:
Procedure
It is the student's responsibility to:
Bring a note from the parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence, date of absence, and time to be dismissed. For school-sponsored events, the teacher will provide the necessary forms to be completed.
Take the note to the attendance office for approval and a pre-arranged form.
Have each teacher/parent sign the pre-arranged form.
Return the form to the attendance office two days prior to the absence.
Checking In and Out of School
Students who must leave during the day for an appointment must have an off-campus pass to leave. This may be obtained by checking out in the attendance office before school or during lunch. If the student does not check out with the attendance office, the absence will not be excused and the student will be truant.
Students Arriving Late or Leaving Early
Any student who comes to school after the bell has rung must get an admit pass from the attendance office or must report to the SMC. Students must be supervised at all times. Students who leave early must check out through the attendance office unless prior arrangements have been made. Classes missed by a student who has not checked out will not be excused upon the student's return to school.
Dismissed Students
Students who are not assigned to a class because of enrollment in off-campus programs or dismissal may not loiter on campus. Students should not arrive more than 10 minutes before the scheduled start of their class or remain more than 10 minutes after their last class. Students who wish to remain on campus for school work must be supervised by the teacher who authorized their presence. Dismissed students using the LMC must remain in the LMC the entire period.
Tardies
All students are expected to be on time to their classes. On time is defined as being at the learning station (as determined by each teacher) before the tardy bell rings. Teachers will take appropriate action (including discipline and parent contact) to enforce this rule. A student is tardy if he/she is up to 10 minutes late to class.
T.A. Opportunities
The Attendance Office is a business office. Students working in the office are asked to follow certain guidelines:
CONFIDENTIALITY: As an attendance office aide you will be entrusted with a great deal of responsibility and exposed to many situations that are sensitive and confidential. You MUST be ready to deal with situations requiring trust by showing tact and diplomacy. Things that happen in this area should NOT be discussed with anyone outside of this office. It is easy to misinterpret what you see and hear if you do not know all of the circumstances involved.
ATTITUDE: The area of the attendance office is very active. It is important that you have a pleasant, helpful attitude dealing with students, parents, general public and staff. Remember that you are representing Prairie High School.
ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY: Excellent attendance and punctuality for the period you are assigned to the attendance office is expected. You are to be in the office and ready to work when the tardy bell rings. Three tardies will result in an after-school detention.
FRIENDS AND VISITING: Friends are not to come to the attendance office to visit. This is a class. If a friend (or any high school student) comes to the attendance office, they should have business to conduct and should leave once that is taken care off.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS: Purses and backpacks may be stored out of sight while working in the office.
FOOD: Please do NOT take food/drinks with you when going to classrooms.
COUNTER WORK: Be attentive and courteous in greeting anyone at the attendance windows. Please do not hesitate to ask questions if you are not sure about a procedure.
FORMS: You will be required to become familiar with the forms used in the attendance office:
• PHS Student Absence Excuse
• Excused Absence (green slip)
• Unexcused Absence
• Off-Campus Pass
• Prearranged Absence forms
• Parking Application form
• Homework Request form
• Confidential Note
• Passes
• Locator Cards
FILING AND ALPHABETIZING: Filing is a very important part of the attendance office recordkeeping system. Please be sure that all information is filed by students' last name. All filing of new material should be filed in the front of the student's folder. Accuracy is very important.
RUNNING ERRANDS AND ATTENDANCE ROSTER PICK-UPS: During periods 2, 4 and 6, it will be necessary for you to pick up the attendance rosters form each classroom. During the course of the day frequently, passes will need to go out to students. It is important that you do your job without disrupting the class in session. Always deliver passes to the teacher, never to the student. Be sure to let the secretary know when you are leaving the office. Be prompt in running all messages, passes and errands and return to the office immediately after.
TELEPHONE: Always be courteous and professional. Answer by saying, "Prairie High School, attendance office, student speaking." All messages should be written so they can be easily read and need to be time stamped. Do not be afraid to ask the person calling to spell their name. Be sure to get a phone number if they wish to have their call returned. Personal phone calls by you or other students require the permission of a secretary.
BE INFORMED: Be sure to read the weekly bulletin, the Falcon Forecast and listen to the daily announcements each day. This way you will know what is going on around the school and what schedule we are on. You may need to answer questions regarding these announcements. Familiarize yourself with the teacher schedules and room numbers.
If you are interested in being a T.A., please download, print, read, sign and return the documents below: