Regular school attendance is vital to successful academic growth and demonstrates caring and respect for self and others. It is the intent of the Bloomfield Hills Attendance Policy to provide opportunities for all students to achieve their fullest potential. Each student is an irreplaceable resource, necessary for the interaction that forms an essential part of classroom learning. When absences occur, the educational experience of all students in the class is diminished.

In order to enhance this educational experience, the following expectations and responsibilities should be emphasized. The major responsibility for acceptable attendance lies with the individual student. However, parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators have the responsibility to assist the student in meeting the goal of acceptable attendance.

Students are expected to be in school, and in class every day. They should be fully aware that the interactions that go on in the classroom cannot be duplicated and constitute a valid and critical part of the course work. They should be on time, attentive, and prepared with the proper materials to be actively involved in the class. If a class has to be missed for school activities, the student must give prior notification to the teacher and request assignments.

Parents are expected to notify the school promptly of any absence or extenuating circumstances regarding illness or personal and family problems which may have an effect on attendance. Every effort should be made to schedule routine appointments after school hours, and family vacations should be planned during the holidays outlined on the school calendar. Parents should discuss the importance of good attendance with their student, and avoid supporting any abuse of the Attendance Policy.

Teachers are expected to maintain accurate daily attendance records, and report them properly to the office. A teacher has the professional responsibility to begin class on time and provide a consistent classroom environment that is a challenging, rewarding, and stimulating experience.

To promote this philosophy and to assist students in developing lifelong responsible attendance patterns, the following regulations will be implemented:

ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS

1. DAILY EXCUSED ABSENCES

Daily excused absences will be granted for such reasons as personal illness, family illness, medical, dental, or legal appointments, religious holidays, and funerals.

2. EXCUSING ABSENCES

For an absence to be excused, adult students or parents of a minor student must advise the attendance office by telephone of the reason for the absence the day of the absence. Family trips and college visits must be prearranged. Documentation or other verification may be required to establish an excused absence. This documentation may be by phone or in writing. Contacts with the attendance office should be made prior to the student's readmission to classes. Students leaving the building during the school day must check in and out with the attendance office or Health Clinic.

All parent calls regarding attendance will be noted on the master attendance list.

3. PREARRANGED EXCUSED ABSENCES

Prearranged absences which include family trips* and college visits must be approved by the administration. These prearranged absences should not be taken before or after a holiday. These absences must be arranged at least 24 hours in advance. Family trips must be arranged 72 hours in advance.

*Absences due to family trips are strongly discouraged. Such absences should not exceed five days per school year. Any work missed beyond five days cannot be made up for credit. Exceptions can be made by the principal for unique educational opportunities, when approval is received in advance. Emergency circumstances will be dealt with by the principal on an individual basis.

In the case of trip absences, it is the student's responsibility to take the initiative in arranging with the teacher for make-up and for completing any make-up either before the trip or within the time established by the teacher after the trip. Teachers may designate such make-up to occur before or after school, during the student's lunch period, or any other mutually agreed upon time. A prearranged absence form must be signed by teachers and parents and returned to the school attendance office three days prior to the trip only if the absence exceeds two (2) days

4. UNACCEPTABLE REASONS FOR ABSENCES AND TARDINESS

Absences such as oversleeping, car trouble, skipping, truancy, leaving school without permission, or no specific reason for the absence will be considered unexcused. Extenuating circumstances may be appealed to the principal (or designee).

5. STUDENT'S RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of the student to know the number of unexcused and excused absences accumulated in the student's records.

6. ABSENCES FOR IN-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Absences for approved participation in-school activities, verified detainment by another teacher or administrator, and approved clinic visits, will be considered excused absences.

7. MAKE-UP WORK

Teachers are obligated to assist students in making up class work missed because of excused absences. The teacher may require that class period time not be used for arranging or completing make-up work and may designate test make-up to occur before or after school, during the student's lunch period, or any other mutually agreed upon time. It is the student's responsibility to take the initiative in arranging for make-up. Teachers are not obligated to assist in the make-up of class work and/or tests missed because of unexcused absences unless specifically directed to do so by the building principal.

8. ATTENDANCE ALERTS

The school will notify parents, in writing, after two unexcused absences from an individual, semester class. In the case of minor students, parents will be notified and a conference may be required. In the case of adult students, the student and/or parent will be notified and a conference may be required.

9. UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: REMOVAL FROM CLASS AND/OR SCHOOL

Upon notice by the teacher, and upon approval of the principal (or designee), a student may lose credit in a class when unexcused absences exceed three in that class. The student may remain in that class for the balance of the semester, and will not receive credit for the course, or the student may be removed from that class and reassigned.

a. The student may receive a grade of “W” or “F
b. The student may be subject to suspension from school, pursuant to Article D, for the remainder of the semester, with loss of credit for the semester for the following reasons:

(1) The student has exceeded two unexcused absences in three or more classes. (2) The student has exceeded six unexcused absences in a single class period.

10. EXCESSIVE EXCUSED ABSENCES

Students with excessive excused absences (10 per semester) will be referred to the counseling staff. Parents will be contacted to express concern regarding the loss of class time, and students may be required to complete additional course work in order to receive credit for the class.

11. UNEXCUSED TARDINESS

Unexcused tardiness to class beyond five minutes will be considered an absence.

12. SUSPENSION ABSENCES

a. Out-of-school suspension absences are a separate category of absence. Teachers may not allow students to make up work or tests for credit missed as a result of suspension absences unless specifically directed to do so by the building principal (or designee).
b. In-school suspension absences are a separate category of absence. Students are allowed to make-up all work or tests for credit missed as a result of the suspension.

13. CHANGE OF RESIDENCY

Adult students or parents of minor students must immediately notify the building principal when the student or parents move out of the boundaries of the Bloomfield Hills School District.