Attendance

In an effort to improve student achievement and your child’s success in school, Whispering Oak Elementary School will exercise Orange County Public Schools’ attendance policy that was developed in accordance with federal requirements and state legislation. Please review the following information.

1. School attendance is the responsibility of the parents or guardians

2. Students will begin each new school year with zero absences.

3. School personnel will encourage regular attendance

4. Parents must send a written note explaining the reason why your child was absent. Please make sure to write your child’s teacher, absent date and reason on your note.

5. On a daily basis, student absences will be recorded as unexcused until an acceptable excuse has been provided by the parent or guardian indicating the reason for the student’s absence.

6. Absences may be excused for:

*illness, injury or other insurmountable condition

*head lice infestation (up to four (4) days during the school year)

*illness or death of a member of the student’s immediate family

*recognized, or established religious holidays

*medical appointments

*catastrophic disaster that significantly impact the life of the student (loss of residence from natural disaster)

*participation in an approved activity or class of instruction

*prearranged absences of educational value with principal’s prior approval

7. Upon 4 unexcused absences within a calendar month the teacher or a member of the child study study team will contact the parent/guardian to determine the reason for the absences.

8. Upon 5 unexcused absences within a calendar month or 10 unexcused absences within a 90-calendar-day period, the child study team will determine if a pattern of nonattendance is developing. If team finds that a pattern of absences exists, a meeting with the parent will be scheduled to identify potential remedies.

9. If an initial meeting with parent does not resolve the problem, the child study team may

implement interventions that best address the problem. The interventions may include:

*more frequent communication between the teacher and family

*student counseling

*mentoring

*peer tutoring

*incentives to encourage attendance

*home visits by school social worker

*referral to outside agencies such as the Department of Children and Families and/or the State Attorney’s Office

10. If a student is repeatedly absent from school due to illness, the school will require the parent/guardian to provide a written physician’s statement for subsequent absences to be considered excused. To make up work assignments missed during absence, students will be given a reasonable amount of time (1 day for each day of absence) to complete assignment.

11. According to Florida State Statutes, a parent or legal guardian who fails to ensure that their child attends school regularly is committing a misdemeanor of the second degree. If a child has more than 15 unexcused absences and the school has made interventions, the parent may be court ordered to pay a fine or spend time in jail

12. Students who arrive to school after 8:45 am will be considered tardy. Student attendance of less than ½ of the school day (3.5 hrs) will be charged as an absence for the day. Five (5) tardies to school will equal one (1) unexcused absence. Report cards will reflect the academic status, attendance and number of tardies for each student.