Jr/Sr High Handbook
Jr/High School Handbook Updated
Academic Policies
Attendance Policy
The Public-School Law of Missouri 167.031 states: “Every parent, guardian, or other person in the state having charge, control, or custody of a child between the ages of seven (7) and the compulsory attendance age for the district, must ensure that the child is enrolled in and regularly attends public, private, parochial, home school or a combination of schools for the full term of the school year. Regularly attend is defined as “Attend school on days school is in session.” Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) expectation is 90% attendance during time enrolled.
The District recognizes the importance of regular student attendance to a successful learning experience. Research supports the fact that attendance is crucial to improving student achievement. It is difficult to overemphasize the importance of being on the job and being punctual.
The school system realizes that medical/dental appointments, death of a family member, and illness are legitimate reasons to receive an excused absence. Absenteeism for reasons other than these must be judged on an individual basis. A parent may check attendance in TeacherEase at any time. Attendance notices will be sent home through mail and an email notification if a student misses 5 days within 1 quarter. Notifications will also be sent at 10 days and 15 days (cumulative).
The Osage R-1 School District Board of Education shall abide by Missouri’s compulsory attendance laws. Any student who drops out of school (not transferred) will be reported to the State Literacy Hotline.
Whenever a student is absent from school, a parent/guardian must call the elementary office by 10:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. If the elementary office has not received a call from the parent/guardian by 10:00 a.m., our office will attempt to contact the parent/guardian. If no contact is made on the day of the absence, upon student’s return, the student must present to the elementary office a written excuse from the parent/guardian, which is dated and states the reason for the absence. All students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time to classes. Absences from the school occur only when absolutely necessary.
It is the student’s responsibility to see the teacher about make-up work after an absence.
**Request for student’s assignments must be received by the Elementary School office no later than 9 a.m. and will be available after 2:30 p.m. the same day only when students have been absent more than 2 consecutive days.**
A student is allowed a maximum of 10 days of absences during the school year. After the 10th day absent, the absence will be excused only with a doctor/dentist note or in the event of a death in the family. Notes from parents after the 10th day will not be allowed. Any long-term illness or extenuating circumstances will be handled at the discretion of the school’s attendance committee (Principal, 2 teachers). Special consideration may be given in case of hospitalization or extended illness if the student brings a written excuse from a doctor explaining the reason for the extended absence. Special consideration will also be given in case of a death in the family.
Section 210.115 R.S.Mo. mandates reporting to the Division of Family Services when there is reasonable cause to suspect that a student’s nonattendance is due to the educational neglect of the parents/guardians. When a student has been absent for 10 days (excused and unexcused), a review will be made to determine educational neglect and/or excessive absenteeism.
When a student reaches 10 (unexcused) absences, a referral will be filed with the Osage County Juvenile Office and/or Prosecuting Attorney. The district will contact the Children’s Division of the Department of Social Services if the district has a reasonable suspicion that a student’s lack of attendance constitutes educational neglect. No such action will be taken unless other strategies and interventions have been implemented and proven ineffective.
Students with 10 or more cumulative absences in a school year will not be allowed to leave school during the normal school day for any school activities/trips. Students that have missed 10 or more days, but meet the following criteria will be allowed to leave school for activities/trips: 1) Students that have a C average or above, 2) students that have no missing assignments or zeros on assignments.
**Students that have missed 15 or more days will not be allowed to leave school during the normal school day for activities/trips under any circumstance. Students not allowed to leave will be given alternative assignments. This includes Going Bonkers trip & ARC trip.**
At any time, a student and parent/legal guardian may request a conference with the principal or other designated school officials to discuss the absences of that student to the attendance policy.
Attendance Standards
The following absences will be excused. Documentation must be provided as indicated:
- Illness or injury of the student, with written excuse from parent.
- Illness or injury of a member of the student’s family when the student’s presence is necessary or expected.
- Medical appointments, with written appointment confirmation by medical provider.
- Funeral, with written excuse from parent. The principal will require a program or other evidence of attendance as additional verification.
- Religious observances, with written excuse from parent.
- Other appointments that cannot be scheduled outside attendance hours, such as court appearances, with written confirmation from the court.
- Visits with a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty member of the military who has been called for duty, is on leave from, or is immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, with permission of the superintendent or designee.
