Details regarding student attendance and absences can be reviewed in the Student Parent Handbook.
Absences and Excuses
A student shall not be absent from school or from any class or during other required school hours except for illness or other providential cause, unless with written permission of the teacher, principal, or other duly authorized school official. No student shall encourage, urge or counsel other students to violate this policy.
Excused Absences
As permitted under state law and State Board of Education policies, students may be excused lawfully for the following reasons: personal illness, serious illness or death in the family, special and recognized religious holidays observed by one’s faith, absence as mandated by order of governmental agencies, conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to one’s health or safety and registering to vote or voting, (for a period not to exceed one day). Additionally, any student whose parent or legal guardian is in the U.S. Armed Forces/National Guard and said parent or legal guardian has been called to duty for, or is on leave from, an overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, shall be granted up to five excused absences per school year, for the day(s) missed from school to visit with the parent or legal guardian prior to such deployment or during such leave. Finally, high school Principals are authorized to excuse absences by students who are visiting a prospective college campus as visiting Juniors or graduating Seniors (limit two days).
Requirements/Time Limits for Student Excuses
Excuses for student absences will be furnished to the school in writing on the day the student returns to school and will be evaluated by the Principal or a designee to determine if the absence is excused or unexcused. Excuses should contain the student’s name, reason for absence, date(s) of the absence and the parent’s/guardian’s signature.
For purposes of accurate record-keeping and student accountability, excuses for all absences must be received and validated within five school days of the student’s return to school-excuses received after that time limit will not be considered unless the Principal deems extenuating circumstances exist.
Truancy
Per Georgia Law, students with five unexcused or ten total absences will be referred to the Attendance Review Team and school social worker. Students who are absent 10% or more of their enrollment, are considered truant. Parents of students with excessive absences may be required by the school administrator to provide physician’s notes for absences to be considered excused.
Attendance Credits
Students shall be counted “present at school” when in attendance at school for at least one-half of the instructional day; attending a school or CCSD-sponsored field trip; serving as Pages of the Georgia General Assembly at the high school level; attendance is assessed period-by-period, but students would still be credited with being present as it relates to field trips and service as Pages; as a student in foster care attending court related to that care; or participating in approved 4-H activities.
Tardies and/or Early Check-Outs as Part of Student Attendance Procedures
Any unexcused tardy (arriving to school/class beyond the posted school start-time) or early check-out (leaving school/class before the posted school end-time) can negatively impact a student’s attendance record and jeopardize his/her overall achievement due to lost instructional time.
Due to the impact of absences, tardies and early check-outs, our schools have developed interventions that would reduce the amount of lost instructional time due to unexcused reasons. Parents and students should know that excuses for school tardies and/or early checkouts are governed by the same State established rules regarding school absences. These rules are listed in the previous section dealing with “Absences and Excuses.”
Attendance Policy (High School Only)
Any student having seven or more excused, approved or unexcused absences in a semester will receive no credit for that class unless a waiver is granted by the Attendance Committee. However, students shall not be denied credit for a course if they have seven or more excused absences in a semester when the following conditions are met: (1) the absences are validated as excused, (2) make-up work is satisfactorily completed and (3) a passing grade has been earned for course work during the semester. Eligibility for credit will be restored if recommended by the Attendance Committee. The Principal has the final decision on this matter. School Principals may develop plans for students to earn back attendance credit for days missed.
The Attendance Review Team is a standing committee composed of five (5) members appointed by the Principal and chaired by an administrator. The chair shall vote only in case of a tie. On the seventh absence, a waiver hearing will be scheduled by the school at the request of the student or parent/legal guardian.
For purposes of accurate record-keeping and student accountability, excuses for all absences must be received upon the student’s return to school.
Resources
Georgia Compulsory Attendance Law: OCGA 20-2-690.1
Georgia Department of Education Rule regarding student attendance: 160-5-1-10
CCSD School Board Policy regarding School Admission: JBC
CCSD School Board Policy regarding absences and excuses: JBD
The Teen and Adult Driving Responsibility Act (TADRA)
TADRA Law: OCGA 40-5-22
State Department of Education Implementation Guidelines:
The Certificate of School Enrollment Form may be found on the Georgia Department of Driver Services website here.
Learn more about TADRA and requirements for Teen Drivers on the Georgia Department of Driver Services Teen Drivers page here.