ATTENDANCE, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND TRUANCY
Letters being sent home this week and next
ATTENDANCE, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND TRUANCY
If a student is absent without valid excuse four (4) or more days or parts of days within a four-week period or is absent without valid excuse for ten (10) or more days or parts of days within a semester, the principal shall notify the parent, guardian or custodian of a student and immediately report such absences to the district attorney in the county wherein the school is located for juvenile proceedings pursuant to Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statues (70-10-106).
Chronic Absenteeism Fact Sheet
Banner school automatically notifies parents of a student's absence daily via voice messenger.
Many parents will be receiving an attendance warning letter over the next several days. Unless your student has been absent or tardy without documentation for more than 4 days in a 30 day period or absent or tardy without documentation for more than 10 days this semester, this is a warning letter.
If your student has been absent without documentation or tardy without documentation for a combined total of more than 4 days in a 30 day period or absent without documentation or tardy without documentation for a combined total of more than 10 days this semester, Banner School is required to report the lack of attendance to the Canadian County Juvenile Justice Center for Truancy evaluation. If your letter shows a chronic absenteeism score of 10 or more, we are required to report attendance to truancy. The Canadian County Juvenile Justice Center handles these cases directly on a case by case basis. You may receive a phone call or a visit by a truancy officer to discuss your student's attendance.
Please review the Attendance Policy that is in the Student Handbook included below.
ATTENDANCE
School hours are from 8:25 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. If a student is absent for any reason, it is the duty of the parent or guardian to notify the school office at 405-262-0598. According to the Oklahoma School Code, any person having control of a student between five (5) and eighteen (18) years of age, is required to compel that student to attend school. Failure to do so may result in fines up to two-hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) and/or imprisonment.
Attendance is important. State law requires a public school system to keep an accurate record of attendance and reasons for absence. If a student must be absent from school, the parents should call the day before, if possible, or the morning of the day the student is absent. If the parent does not have a telephone, he must send a note back to school with the student stating the date, and the reason for the absence.
The Banner School District has adopted the Canadian County District Attorney’s School Attendance Policy which states the following:
We will abide by Oklahoma State Law Title 10A O.S. § 1-1-105 & Title 70 O.S. § 10-106.
In order for a school to excuse an absence there shall be documentation of a valid excuse: Examples of acceptable documentation are doctor’s notes, family funerals, and religious holidays (this is a non-exhaustive list)
If a child is absent three or more days due to illness, a doctor’s note shall be provided to the school. Absences in which the school is notified by the parent shall be treated as verified until documentation is received.
Students will not be excused from school once they arrive unless the parent calls for them or sends a note if he has no phone. By state law, students must be counted absent for any reason other than missing for activities. Students must strive to be on time at all times.
A student must be in attendance 85% of the academic year in order to receive class credit. Any absences in excess of five (5) days or parts of days in a quarter or seven (7) days or parts of days in a semester shall require an intervention plan with the student’s parents, teacher and principal or counselor. Non-compliance with the intervention plan may result in student receiving an incomplete for the coursework and class. Retention may be recommended by the teacher or a placement committee due to the excessive absences and incompletion. A written appeal concerning the recommendation may be made within ten (10) days of the decision. The decision of the board of education shall be final.
Exceptions to this policy are the following:
- Hospitalization.
- Extended illness when verified by a physician
- Educational related absences approved by the administration.
If a student is absent without valid excuse four (4) or more days or parts of days within a four-week period or is absent without valid excuse for ten (10) or more days or parts of days within a semester, the principal shall notify the parent, guardian or custodian of a student and immediately report such absences to the district attorney in the county wherein the school is located for juvenile proceedings pursuant to Title 10 of the Oklahoma Statues (70-10-106).
Verified and Unexcused absences count toward Truancy:
In order for the school to excuse an absences, there shall be documentation of a valid excuse.
Examples of acceptable documentation are the following:
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- Doctor’s statements
- Family funerals
- Court summons
- Observation of religious holidays of the pupil’s faith
- School-related field trips or educational activities approved by the building administrator
- Any special circumstances- such as family emergencies, educational experiences, weather extremes, etc. - these are to be approved by the building administrator.