FRONT COVER - Norwin School District

illness/quarantine
recovery from accident
required court attendance
death in immediate family
observance of a major religious holiday
family trip, college or post-secondary school visit approved by the Administration as per
Board policy
urgent reasons determined acceptable by the Administration
Most absences for other reasons are unexcused and may be classified as parental neglect or truancy.
Students will be considered to be in attendance if they are:
receiving approved tutorial instruction or health care
engaged in an approved supervised work study or career education program
receiving approved homebound instruction
on a school approved activity and sponsored field trip
Absences for reasons not listed above or not approved on a special basis by the school administration
shall be recorded as unexcused.
Absences for a portion of the school day, class cuts, early dismissals, and tardiness will be considered on
a cumulative basis and may be translated into equivalent days of absence.
In instances where the school administration believes that absences due to illness are chronic and/or
irregular or there is reason to question the absence of a child, the Administration may request a
physician's statement certifying the date(s) of absence.
Attendance Documentation:
Upon return to school after an absence, the student must always present an Excuse for Absence Form
and appropriate documentation to the Attendance Table within three (3) days of the student’s return to
school. Completing the school-provided Excuse for Absence Form will result in the necessary information
being submitted for proper records. If the Excuse for Absence Form and appropriate documentation
is not presented by homeroom period of the fourth day following the absence, the absence will be
unexcused.
The responsibility for providing the excuse rests upon the student and parent, not upon the school district.
The parent/guardian(s) may verify that the excuse has been presented to the school by:
asking their child
phoning the school
faxing, emailing ,mailing, or delivering it to the school themselves
In order for a medical excuse to be valid, it must be submitted within five (5) school days upon the
student’s return. Medical excuses will not be included when considering disciplinary action and/or loss of
privileges due to excessive absences. Eighteen-year-old students who are not considered independent
and self-supporting must still have a parent/guardian signature on any absence, early dismissal or tardy
note.
Absences not excused by the methods outlined above, or which are for unlawful reason, will be
designated unexcused and unlawful.
Students who fail to obtain an admit slip upon returning to school will be subject to disciplinary
action which may consist of detention, suspension, and/or loss of privileges.
Excuses determined to be a forgery, or to be willfully false, will be considered invalid. The resultant
action may be the recording of the absence as unexcused/unlawful and school or legal disciplinary
responses as per the State Code and School Board policies.
The Administration may refuse to accept a parent/guardian written excuse and may require physician, or
other appropriate, verification for the stated reason of absence.
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