REGULATIONS

      According to state law, high schools are required to hold school for 180 days each year.  This implies that every student must attend school.  Rhode Island school law now mandates that all children remain enrolled in schools up to age seventeen. 

 

     If a student is absent, it is expected that the student’s parent/guardian will telephone the school at 624-8494 between 8:00-9:00 A.M. to report the absence.  A 24 hour voice system for attendance is available for parent/guardian convenience.   A written excuse must be turned into the main office within three school days. If no call is received, a person from the school may notify the parent that the child is absent.

 

      Students who are absent (unexcused) or suspended from school (OSS) will not be allowed to participate in after school activities during the time of the suspension.

 

                In all cases of absence, it is the student’s responsibility to keep abreast of the schoolwork and make up what he or she missed.  Parents may call the Guidance Office at 624-6621 to have homework sent home.  One day advance notice must be given to receive assignments.  Students with a long-term illness are entitled to tutoring services.

 

Rationale:

A.       Regular attendance is expected and encouraged.

B.       Excessive absenteeism

(15 consecutive days) may result in a referral to the court for    non-compliance with the State of Rhode Island’s Attendance Policy.

C.       Truancy

With the first incident of truancy, the parent is contacted immediately and the student is given one day of Alternative Program Placement (APP).   From the second incident of truancy up to the 5th a student will receive a minimum of two days APP and the parent will be contacted and requested to come into school.  Upon the sixth incident, a student may be suspended from school (OSS) for up to 10 days and referred to the Superintendent and School Board for possible expulsion.

D.     Excused Absences

Following are the reasons a student may be excused from school.  All excused absences must be verified in writing within five school days in order to be validated.

1.        Bereavement (note from parent with obituary and/or prayer card)

2.        Hospitalization (note from doctor)

3.        School sponsored trip (note from office)

4.        Court or legal commitment (note from lawyer/court officer)

5.        Obligatory religious holidays (note from parent)

6.        Extended illness (note from doctor or parent)

7.        College visitations (approved by the Guidance Office (1 visit in junior year – 3 visits in senior year)

8.        Approved Senior Project Mentoring (one day)

9.      In the case of extenuating circumstances,  the principal must be contacted for approval.  

E.       Unexcused Absences

 

 IF A STUDENT IS ABSENT (NON-EXCUSED) FROM         
CLASS/SCHOOL FOR MORE THAN 18 Days HE/SHE WILL LOSE CREDIT IN THE COURSE.

 

If a student loses credit for the year, the report card will be marked NO CREDIT.  A parent appeal conference can be scheduled to review the matter.  Students who are assigned to a project by the office will not be considered absent.  Students assigned In-School Remediation will be considered present.  Students suspended out of school will be considered absent (excused).

Notification

1.        When a student has accumulated 9 days of unexcused absences from school, the Main Office will mail a Warning Letter home.

2.        When a student has accumulated more than 18 days of unexcused absences from school the attendance officer will contact the parent with a Denial Letter detailing the penalty for being absent more than 18 days.  The penalty is as follows:

Students who have violated the attendance policy but are passing all their courses will be required to take and pass a pre-approved college summer course in order to get credit for the school year.

Students, who fail no more than 2 courses and violated the attendance policy, will be required to attend summer school and if they pass the course(s) then they will receive credit for the school year.

If a student does not meet the summer school criteria (minimum grade of 50), and in addition has violated the attendance policy, no credit will be given for the school year.

 

Appeals Process

                                Step 1. Parents may appeal the loss of credit to the:

a.           Principal of the High School.

                                              b.      A letter requesting an appeal should be

sent to the Principal within 10 school  days after the Loss of Credit Letter is received.

c.        The Principal will then contact the parent to discuss the appeal.

d.        The parents will be notified in writing of the decision.

Step 2.  Parents can appeal any decision to the

             superintendent.

 

Step 3.  The parent may appeal the Superintendent’s

             decision to the School Committee.

Students on in-school suspension will be considered present.

Students suspended out of school will be considered absent (excused).

Tardy students who miss more than half of a class will be considered absent for that class.  (Example:  students who signs into school at 8:15 a.m. will be considered absent from period 1.)

Family vacations are considered unexcused absences.  Student’s whose parents take vacations while school is in session, must notify the office in writing ONE-WEEK BEFORE VACATION.  Students must comply with attendance policy.