Shelby High School

Attendance Philosophy/Policy and Procedures:

The entire process of education requires a continuity of instruction, classroom participation, learning experiences, and individual study in order to reach the goal of maximum educational benefits for each student. The regular contact of the students with one another in the classroom and their participation in instructional activities under the tutelage of a competent teacher are vital for this purpose. This is an established principle of education which underlies and gives purpose to the requirement of compulsory education in this and every other state in the nation. The good things that schools have to offer can only be presented to students who are in attendance. With continuing emphasis of fully implementing No Child Left Behind legislation, and  being responsible for academic outcomes associated with that legislation it is  deemed mandatory that attendance guidelines are established. Attendance reflects a student’s dependability and is a significant factor on a student’s permanent record. Future employers are as much concerned about punctuality and dependability as they are about academic record.

All students shall attend school regularly. Parents and students will be notified of every absence.  Regular attendance is a requirement for receiving credit in any class.  Teachers may have an attendance requirement as part of the student’s grades. A student may lose credit in any class as a result of continued absenteeism.

A. Classification of Absences:

Shelby High School recognizes the following types of absences:

Excused Absence:  Caused by illness, family emergency, medical, and/or weather. All other absences will be considered unexcused. Students have two days per day missed to make-up assignments to a maximum of five (5) days.

Unexcused Parent Permission: Absences requested by parents, which are not considered excused absences will be considered in this category. Student’s whose absence falls into this category shall only be permitted to complete make-up work prior to the absence.

3)  Unexcused Absence: Caused by truancy, skipping, or failure to verify an excused   

      absence in a timely manner. Unexcused absences will result in disciplinary  

      consequences. Students shall NOT be permitted to complete make-up work for this

      type of absence.

School Related: This is an absence involving participation in school sponsored  

       activities. Students under school sponsorship are automatically excused and have full  

       make-up privileges.  Students away from school in this category are considered

       present. However, individual teachers, with prior notice may require students to

       complete work before they are permitted to participate in the activity. 

B)  Excessive Absences:

Any student in grades 9 – 12 who accumulates more than ten (10) absences, either excused or unexcused, per semester in any class will not earn credit for that semester. School related absences are not considered in this total. Extenuating circumstances will be considered by an attendance committee composed of teachers who will make a recommendation to the principal. The principal will forward the recommendation of the committee to the Board of Trustees.

An appeal for extenuating circumstances must be submitted through an attendance appeal form available in the High School office. The form shall be completed by a parent/guardian or the student and should be supported by any pertinent information such as documentation from a medical expert or any other information to substantiate that the absences were beyond the student’s control. The appeal shall be filed within five (5) days of the eleventh (11) absence. Failure to compete an appeal will result in an automatic recommendation for denial of credit to the Board of Trustees. Students being denied credit will remain in the class.

Students will be notified of attendance after the following absences:

• Third (3) absence
• Seventh (7) absence
• Tenth (10) absence

C. Re-Admittance:

Upon returning to school following an absence students must report to the main office for a permit to reenter classes. Students must present a written excuse signed by a parent/guardian stating the date, time and reason for the absence. A phone call from a parent is acceptable.

D. Leaving School Campus:

After a student arrives at school, permission in writing must be obtained by the office, (before the student leaves the school grounds) in order for the student to leave the campus for any reason except during lunch. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the student being considered truant. A phone call from a parent before the student leaves the school grounds is acceptable.

E. Tardy Policy: 

Students are expected to arrive at their assigned class before the bell rings.  A student who enters the classroom after the bell has rung during 1^st and/or 5^th period(s) will be required to obtain a tardy slip from the office.  Students will receive detention from the school office for class tardiness.  Students who arrive at class 15 minutes after the bell has rung are considered absent and must obtain a class admittance slip from the office.

    1.  Students who enter class late due to an excused absence will be allowed to

         make up work.         

    2. Teachers will assign a half hour detention for any tardy to their class except for   

        first and/or fifth periods. If students are tardy for first or fifth periods they must    

        report to the office in order to gain an admittance slip. Students will receive one

        warning per semester and will be assigned detention for each additional tardy    

        following the warning.