School Absences and Tardies

Truancy
The Indiana Department of Education recommends that truancy be defined as “when a student is absent from school without the permission of parent/guardian.”  Under I.C. 20-33-2-11, a child who is designated a habitual truant is defined as “a student who is chronically absent, by having unexcused absences from school for more than ten (10) days of school in one (1) school year.”

Since it is the responsibility of the student’s parents to keep the school informed, we ask that they call the school to report a student absence. Parents may call between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on the day of the absence to leave a message on our Chapel Hill Center Absence line, 988-8900.

If you do not have access to a telephone, a parent/guardian may send a note or doctor’s statement to school with the student. This is to ensure that absences are not counted against the student. Legal excused absences include personal illness and death in the family. Medical and dental appointments are also excused.

Teachers will call home the day of your student’s absence to ensure that parents are aware of their student not being at school. Your child’s attendance and safety is important to us. This is a part of our school safety plan to ensure that all students are present and accounted for.

Students who miss 3 or more days will be placed into attendance groups led by our school counselors. Students who miss 6 or more days may receive a home visit by our staff to aid our students and their families in early intervention. Students who miss 8 or more days will be placed on attendance probation. Students who miss a total of 10 absences will receive a 10-day letter, regardless if the absences are excused or unexcused. It is imperative that every day a student is absent, after the tenth day, the student brings in a doctor’s statement to the receptionist in the main office. Once the student has accumulated 10 unexcused absences, the student is eligible for Truancy Court and may be referred. If attendance remains an issue for the student, please contact the student’s grade-level Counselor, or homeroom teacher for further interventions.

If the student is tardy to school, the student’s parent must come in the building with the student to sign the student in, or call and notify us as to why the student is late. The student’s parent will receive a 5 day and 10 day letter reporting their student’s tardiness to school. Habitual tardiness to school will result in detentions, Friday schools, and/or In School Suspension. Arrive to school on time. Students who must leave during the school day, are required to be signed out in the Main Office by a parent or guardian.