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Attendance

Attendance

Regular and punctual patterns of attendance will be expected of each student enrolled in the Urbandale Community School District. Students should strive to maintain a good attendance record because there is a direct correlation between attendance and academic success in school.

It is recognized that absence from school may be necessary under certain conditions. However, every effort should be made by students, parents, guardians, teachers, and administrators to keep absences and tardiness to a minimum. Frequent absences of students from classroom learning experiences disrupt the continuity of the instructional process. The school cannot teach students who are not present on a daily basis. Parents/guardians and students are strongly advised to limit absences to cases of emergencies, illness, doctor and dental appointments, occasional family trips, or a death in the family.   

EXCESSIVE ABSENCES

Parent/guardians will follow the school's designated procedures for excusing student absences.  When a student has reached an excessive number of absences during a school year (ten percent of accumulated school days), the school will examine the reason(s) for the absences and identify interventions to support better attendance.


If it is determined that further support is needed, the school principal/designee will send notification to the parents/guardians informing them the school will need further documentation to excuse future absences from that point forward.  This documentation should include, but is not limited to, notes from a doctor to excuse illness, notes from a dentist to verify an appointment, or being seen and sent home by a school nurse.  The school's health office may also request that a medical release of information form be signed by the parent/guardian so that the school can work with the student's parents and health care provider to best meet the student's educational and medical needs.



UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

If requested documentation is not provided in a timely manner for future absences, said absences will be considered unexcused. When a student of compulsory attendance age has had five or more full days of unexcused absence in a school year, the student’s school health office and/or administration will notify the district’s Juvenile Court/School Liaison (JCSL). The JCSL will then communicate with the building administrator/designee to verify that a referral needs to be made for the student’s parents/guardians to the Polk County Truancy Program. This program is intended to support families and encourage positive attendance at school. 



See Board Policy 508 - Attendance Requirements.

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