Student Handbook - The Taft School

ACADEMICS
ABSENCE POLICY AND ACADEMIC CREDIT
Taft prides itself on close contact between faculty and students, and classes are the most important
place for this relationship to develop. Being in class is essential to each student’s intellectual experience,
so students should miss class only due to illness or special circumstances.
We also understand that students will miss class—for brief to extended periods of time, voluntarily
and involuntarily-—due to illness, medical/personal leaves, or unique opportunities to participate
in programs away from school. The following guidelines establish the parameters for such absences
and academic credit.
Excused Absences Involving Missed Classes
Occasionally, Taft students may encounter an opportunity to pursue excellence in an area of longterm
commitment and expertise. In these cases, students may petition for permission to miss a total
of up to 5 academic class days in an academic year.
Students wishing to leave school must submit a completed petition, including a complete explanation
of the program or event in which they wish to participate, 30 days in advance of their proposed
departure. Once they have completed their formal petition and submitted it to their class dean, the
class dean will meet with the student’s teachers, as well as any other appropriate adults (advisor, coaches,
athletic director, Arts Department head, etc.) to determine whether to approve the application. Students
should not make travel arrangements or assume that they will be granted permission to leave until this
meeting has occurred and formal permission has been communicated. Unusual requests will be referred
to the department heads, who will determine whether the proposal merits consideration.
Any student planning to request an extended absence must be in good academic and disciplinary
standing. The class dean and teachers will determine the student’s academic standing. Disciplinary standing
will be determined by the dean of students. Under no circumstance may a student on Disciplinary
Report apply for an extended absence. In addition, if a student has missed significant class time for
other reasons, that circumstance may have an impact on the decision about the student’s petition.
Finally, if a student’s petition is approved, he or she must remain in solid academic and disciplinary
standing until the time at which he or she leaves. Changes in the student’s circumstances may result
in withdrawal of permission to leave at any point.
Personal or Medical Leaves of a Week or Less
Because these are involuntary, students do not need to complete a petition. However, students are
responsible for all missed work in order to receive academic credit and Taft grades.
Extended Personal or Medical Leaves up to 50 Percent of a Semester
During the absence, students and families must make arrangements for the completion of required
course work with the dean of academic affairs and class dean. Families will need to identify a responsible
third party to administer tests and exams. Students are eligible for academic credit when they
have completed all of the required assignments in each class.
When a student requires a leave that exceeds 50 percent of a semester, the headmaster, dean of
academic affairs, class dean, and school counselor will convene to determine whether it is appropriate
for the student to remain enrolled in the school. At that point, the student and family will share in
discussions about educational options as the student moves forward.
10 The Taft School