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Dr. Joshua W. Murfree, Jr. |
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| DCSS Attendance Policy | |||
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Schools are responsible for teaching children, but they cannot do their job if children are frequently absent. Parents can help by making school attendance a top priority. By building the habit of daily attendance, parents can help children understand that school is important. The Dougherty County Board of Education believes that regular attendance is essential to children receiving a sound education. Educational experiences lost during an absence are irretrievable because make-up work seldom duplicates classroom interaction. According to district policy, a student in grades K-8 must attend school 166 of the 180 days or be retained. Extended illnesses, accompanied by a signed statement from the student's physician, are an exception to this policy. A student in grades 9-12 cannot have more than 7 class hour absences per semester, or 14 class hour absences per year-long class and receive credit in that subject. A student who is denied credit under this policy and has a passing grade in the course may appeal to the student discipline tribunal for a special exception. Such appeal must be in writing, addressed to the principal, and must be made within one week following the end of the semester. Valid excuses for absences are:
Parents will receive notification from the school when their child has three unexcused absences. Parents are encouraged to contact the school about their child's absences. Information about district attendance and other school procedures will be distributed through student handbooks available at the schools. Attendance Procedures The following procedures will be followed by school administrators when students are absent from school: 3 days: Send a letter notifying parents/guardians of absences. 5 days: Send a letter to parents/guardians regarding absences and notification that the student has an opportunity to attend Saturday School. The parent facilitator will call or visit the parents/guardians regarding absences (schools without parent facilitators will use school social workers). 7 days: Send a certified letter to parents/guardians regarding absences and notification that the student must attend Saturday School. (This is for students who have made no effort to attend Saturday School.) The certified letter will also inform the parents/guardians that the student will be referred to the District Attorney's office if the student misses nine days from school. The parent facilitator or school social worker will call or visit the parents/guardians and notify them that the student will be referred to the District Attorney's office if he/she misses nine days from school. 9 days: The student will be referred to the District Attorney's office. 10 days: A student will be referred for noncompliance if he/she has 10 unexcused absences. The student will lose his/her driver's license or he/she will not be eligible to receive a driver's license. A form letter from DCSS and the District Attorney's office explaining these procedures will be sent home to parents at the beginning of the school year. |
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Dougherty County School System
Copyright © 1998-2012. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer The statements set forth in this website are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as the basis of a contract between the Dougherty County School System and any individual. While every effort will be made to insure accuracy of the material stated herein, Dougherty County School System reserves the right to change any provision listed in this website without notice to any individual. The Dougherty County School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer |
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