Attendance

Attendance Office

Attendance Polices 22-23

Our vision for students is that they are present and punctual at school in order to receive the best learning opportunities we can give them. When students are late or absent, they miss a lot of development and interaction with their peers.

Please plan to arrive at school at 7:50 a.m. Most students are already in their classrooms by 7:55 a.m. and considered late at 8:00 a.m. We appreciate your help in getting your child to school on time for a relaxed, positive start to the school day.

When students are late, it is harder for them to focus on the school day, it disrupts their peers who were on time, and it sets them apart because they then have to catch up on what they’ve missed.

Because we take this seriously and want to support you in getting your students to school and on time, we’re implementing the following framework:

1. For every unexcused absence, the office will call parents to inquire about your student.
2. When your student has accrued 3 unexcused absences or tardies, we will call to inform you of their absence and tardy counts.
3. When your student has accrued 4 unexcused absences or tardies, we will send a letter mandated by SPS home.
4. Upon the accrual of 6 unexcused absences or tardies, Dr. Zisko or Dr. Morisco will call to discuss our concerns for your student’s attendance.
5. Upon the accrual of 8 unexcused absences or tardies, we will call to schedule a meeting with you and a success team for your student.

We appreciate your cooperation in our mission to support your student’s education and success.

1. Conduct home visits/phone calls with families who were chronically absent the previous year. These efforts will take place in August.
2. Follow a consistent protocol for each late or absence incident:
   • 1st Unexcused Late (UL) or Unexcused absence (UA): Office will call parent with concern, state what is best for your child, reiterating guidelines from Attendance Works. Ask how we can help your child get to school on time or to be here whenever they are not ill.
   • 2nd UL or UA: Principal calls parent the day of late or day of absence with the same concern as above. Reiterates what is best for your child and how disruptive it is for the teacher and the students when kids come in late. How they miss important information.
   • 3rd UL or UA: In school meeting with principal/Counselor OR home visit. School staff reiterates concerns above and the team looks for solutions.
   • 4th UL or UA: Parent(s) is asked to come to school to discuss and sign an attendance agreement.