Attendance Policy 5200 and The Indiana Compulsory Attendance law IC 20-8.1-6.1 requires that every child must attend either a public school or some other school which is taught in the English language and is open to inspection by certain state and local officials. The age for attendance is established as the age of seven (7) until the date of the age of sixteen (16). It is unlawful for a parent to fail, neglect, or refuse to ensure that a child attends school as required by law. A person who knowingly violates this law commits a Class D felony. It is the ambition of our school district to achieve an attendance goal of 97% each school year. Each student cannot miss more than 5 days of school to meet this attainable goal. BGCS believes this responsibility is shared by students, parents, and school staff in order for there to be success. Please encourage your child to make school his/her top priority.
Student Absences
It is expected that a student will be at school every day possible. Excused absences include personal illness, death of a family member, and medical appointments that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours. A student is not considered absent when he or she is performing one of the following: (1) Is a member of a school-sponsored field trip. (2) Is serving as a Page or Honoree in the Indiana General Assembly. (3) Is a witness in judicial proceedings; this includes only required court appearances. (4) Is a helper to a political candidate, a political party, or to a precinct election board on the date of an election. (5) A documented college or career visit. Missing school for any other reason than those listed above will be considered an unexcused absence. After three days of personal illness, A doctor’s note can be required to excuse the absence.
Reporting A Student Absence
When a child is absent from school, the parent is asked to call the school office to report the absence. If we are not notified, the school will call the home or the parent’s place of employment. It is very important that we can verify a student’s absence each day for safety reasons. On the day the child returns, please send in any applicable documentation.
Excessive Absences
According to the Indiana Department of Education, habitual truancy includes students absent ten (10) days or more from school within a school year without being excused. According to the Indiana Department of Education, chronic absenteeism includes students absent from school for ten percent or more of a school year for ANY reason excused or unexcused. When a student has (5) absences, they will have a conference with the school advisor. At (7) absences, a letter will be sent home to the parents. When a student has (10) absences in a school year, parents are required to attend a conference with the principal or designee. A maximum of (9) of a student’s absences will be considered excused with parental notification. All other absences will require documentation from a doctor’s office in order to be excused. Failure to comply with the attendance policy may result in educational neglect or truancy charges being filed with the Beech Grove Police Department and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
10 Missed Days of School
Once a child has missed (10) days of school, a letter will be sent home. The Home/School Advisor, counselor or administrator will place a phone call requesting a conference. If the school is unable to reach the said parents/guardians, a home visit will take place.
At this time, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Warning Letter will be mailed home to the parents/guardians of the child. Under I.C. 20-33-2-25, the Superintendent or an attendance officer having jurisdiction shall report a child who is habitually absent from school in violation of this chapter to the Department of Child Services, DCS. The Department of Child Services shall proceed in accord with IC 31-30 through IC 31-40.
Transfer Student Attendance Policy
The school district may enroll an out-of-district student under IC 20-26-11-32. SEA 108 allows for a provision allowing the governing body to adopt a policy to: (1) deny enrollment; (2) discontinue enrollment during a current or subsequent school year; or (3) establish terms of enrollment or to continue enrollment based on a history of unexcused absences.
The Beech Grove City Schools Board of Education has established 10 days as the number of days a transfer student can miss before consideration for discontinuing enrollment will begin. Students who miss 10 days or more will be placed on notification that they are on attendance probation by the school.
Tardy Policy
Promptness is important for student success in school. Research shows that attendance habits formed in elementary school tend to become life- long patterns that carry over into the adult work world. Students are expected to be in school and in class on time. A student who is not in his or her classroom will be counted tardy.
Excessive Tardiness
When a student is tardy 10 days or more, a letter will be sent to the parents reminding them of the school’s attendance policy and the importance of being at school on time. There will also be a conference held with the student. Continued violations to the tardy policy may result in educational neglect or truancy charges being filed with the Beech Grove Police Department and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. A transfer student who is late (10) or more days will be considered for discontinued enrollment at Beech Grove City Schools.
