Regular school attendance is essential for success in school. Being dependable and prompt are two important characteristics of a successful life. Parents are legally responsible for seeing that their child attends school regularly. In addition, students who are not in regular attendance miss out on instruction and learning opportunities.
Annually, the Board of Trustees adopts and publishes a school-year calendar, including student attendance days, days students are not in session, and vacation periods. Parents should see that students are in school during school attendance days and plan vacations when students are not in school. We recognize that student absences may be necessary, although unexcused, which may be necessary. If parents feel a planned student absence is necessary, they must request a conference with the principal five days in advance of the absence.
Students who have chronic absences are put in jeopardy of getting behind in academics. Any student who has chronic excused or unexcused absences (7 or more per semester for excused and unexcused) may be assigned to the after-school Homework Improvement Program (HIP) by the administration or at the teacher's request. This assignment will be based on classroom assignments that are missing or incomplete due to the student being absent from school.
Excused Absences: Brownstown Elementary strives to maintain a 96% attendance rate. Students are encouraged to miss 9 or fewer days each semester. The 10th excused absence will become unexcused unless accompanied by a doctor’s note. Parents and guardians will have until 3:00 the following day to report an absence. If the absence is not reported, it will become unexcused. An absence will be classified as excused if the student’s custodial parent/guardian has determined that the student will not be in school attendance. The reason falls under one of the criteria listed below:
Illness or Injury: Personal illness or injury of the student
Professional, medical, and legal appointments: For excused absences, doctor and dental notes are acceptable documentation. Signed letters or notes from an attorney or judge are also acceptable verification forms for an excused absence.
Funeral: Death in the immediate family or to attend the funeral of a friend or distant relative.
Emergency Situation: Parents or guardians should contact the administration to explain the situation.
Observance of a Recognized Religious Holiday: Absences can be excused for special religious services when the office is notified by phone call or note.
Prearranged absences: The administration must approve these in advance of the absence.
Unexcused Absences: All other absences that are not listed in the excused section will be unexcused. As stated above, students are encouraged to miss 9 or fewer days each semester. Parents and guardians will have until 3:00 the following day to report an absence. If the absence is not reported, it will become unexcused, and students will not be able to make up work for the day of the unexcused absence. Students at Brownstown Elementary do not receive personal days; therefore, a call from a parent requesting a personal day for a student will be considered unexcused.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCE INTERVENTIONS
Unexcused Absences
Interventions
After each unexcused absence
Parent contact through email or text message.
After the 3rd unexcused absence
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian.
After the 6th unexcused absence
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian.
After the 8th unexcused absence
Meeting with the parent/guardian and school administration. A letter will be sent to the parent from the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
After the 9th unexcused absence
A CITATION and a NOTICE OF VIOLATION OF COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW, I.C. 20-33-2-27(b) will be issued to the parent/guardian via certified mail.
After the 10th unexcused absence
The parent/guardian of the student will be referred to the Jackson County Prosecutor for Compulsory School Attendance Violation (Indiana Code: 20-33-2-27(b)).
