Attendance Guidance

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Northern Humboldt Union High School District Attendance Policy

The Governing Board believes that absenteeism, whatever the cause, may be an early warning sign of poor academic achievement and may put students at risk of dropping out of school. The Board desires to ensure that all students attend school in accordance with the state's compulsory education law and take full advantage of educational opportunities provided by the district. For more information on board policy, please visit the NHUHSD website. 

WHY ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT:

• When students miss school, they miss key academic content, positive social interactions, and learning experiences that cannot be recreated through make-up assignments. 
• Research shows that missing 10% of school negatively affects a student’s academic performance. (10% = 2 days per month, or 18 days per school year) 
• There is a significant, positive relationship between attendance and student achievement. 

TRACK YOUR STUDENT’S PROGRESS:

Track your student’s attendance and academic progress through ParentVUE.  Access ParentVUE through the QR Code to the right or by visiting: https://ca-nhu.edupoint.com/PXP2_Login.aspx

ATTENDANCE OFFICE CONTACTS:

• Arcata High School: Amanda Willfong; [email protected]; (707) 825-2401 
• Pacific Coast High School: Stephanie Hampton; [email protected]; (707) 825-2442 
• Six Rivers Charter High School: Sandra Levinson; [email protected]; (707) 825-2428 
• McKinleyville High School: Janet Barnett; [email protected]; (707) 839-6401 
• Mad River High School: Stephanie Hampton; [email protected]; (707) 839-6480

IF YOUR STUDENT IS ABSENT:

• Parents/Guardians should contact the school’s attendance office as soon as possible to clear the absence. 

• Absences not cleared by a parent or guardian within 3 days will be considered a CUT, and disciplinary action will be taken. 

• Parents/Guardians may clear absences 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by doing one of the following: 
• Utilize the ParentSquare app to clear and or excuse your student’s absence
• Call your school’s attendance office at the phone # listed above and leave a message.
• Email your school’s attendance secretary at the email above. Include your student’s name, the dates, and the reason for the absence. 
• If you receive an automated call from the school, follow the prompts to clear the absence.
• Send a written note signed by a parent or guardian with the student when they return.

OFF-CAMPUS PERMITS:

• If your student needs to leave campus for any part of the school day, a parent or guardian must call the school’s attendance office at least one hour prior to the time your student is to be released. 

INDEPENDENT STUDY CONTRACTS:

• Short-term Independent Study Contracts may be requested for planned absences up to 15 total school days in a year. 
• Contracts must be approved by site administration at least five days in advance, but no more than 2 weeks before the leave date.          
• Independent Study requests in excess of 15 days will be recommended for a long-term Independent Study program for the remainder of the semester. 

TARDIES: Students are expected to be in class on time each class period. Students who are late to class will receive a tardy. Any student who is more than 10 minutes late to class is required to get an admit slip from the office before entering class. There are two types of tardies: 

• Excused Tardy (ET): Late to class with a valid excuse from a parent/guardian or staff member. 
• Unexcused Tardy (UT): Late to class without a valid excuse from a parent/guardian or staff member. Teachers are not required to grade work missed due to an Unexcused Tardy. 

• Consequences for Unexcused Tardies (UT) are as follows: 

• 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Offenses: Teacher welcomes student. If the student is more than 10 minutes late, the teacher should collect their admit slip. 
• On the 3rd Offense: Students will be assigned a consequence by the office (see consequences for cuts below; 3 tardies = 1 cut)
• Additional Offenses: Admin will assign escalating consequences and/or refer the student to the Attendance Intervention Team to connect with appropriate interventions and supports. 

MISSING IN ACTION (MIA):  When a student is marked as “MIA”, it means that they showed up to class, but either: 

1. left class without permission,
2. left class and did not return, or
3. was away from class longer than permitted (ex: gone to the bathroom for more than 10 mins). 

MIAs are treated as cuts (see consequences for cuts below).

ABSENCES: Students are expected to be at school every day. Students who do not attend school will receive an absence. Students who are absent more than 10% of the time (18 days a school year) for any reason are considered “chronically absent”. There are multiple types of absences:
Excused Absences (EA): The following absences are excusable when cleared by a parent/guardian:
Personal illness, including mental or behavioral health*  Quarantine, under the direction of the county health department  Medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic services*  Bereavement / Attendance at a funeral  Jury duty / Court appearance  Observance of a religious holiday or attendance at a religious retreat	Attendance at an employment or educational conference  Spending time with an active duty family member in the US Military  Attendance at a naturalization ceremony to  become a US citizen  Participation in a cultural ceremony or event  Engaging in a civic or political event (requires notice in advance of absence to be excused)
*Once a student has missed 14 days total in a school year due to illness, a doctor’s note will be required for any additional absences due to illness.
Other Excused Absence Codes: The following are additional attendance codes that would be considered excused absences:
FT: Field Trip  SP: Sports  OT: Other (ex: on campus meeting with an academic counselor)
Unexcused Absences (UA): Unexcused absences are those that have been cleared by a parent/guardian, but do not meet any of the above state criteria for an excused absence.
Uncleared Absences (UC): If the parent/guardian fails to clear an absence within 3 days, it will result in a CUT
Cuts (CT): A cut is an absence from class for more than 30 minutes without a valid excuse.  Cuts result in disciplinary action.  Teachers are not required to grade work, quizzes or tests missed due to a cut.
Disciplinary action for cuts/and or multiple tardies is as follows: 1st Offense: Automated phone call home; assigned lunch detention to review attendance policies.  2nd Offense: Automated phone call home; assigned lunch detention  3rd Offense: Admin has an in-person meeting with the student where they call home to discuss the concern, and that the next consequence is Saturday School 4th Offense: Assigned Saturday School   (Ex: HERE)  5th Offense: Student considered truant (see Truancy below)  Failure to comply with any disciplinary actions may result in a consequence of greater severity, including the loss of extra-curricular activities until all obligations are fulfilled.

TRUANCY: CA Ed Code defines a truant as “any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education who is absent from school without a valid excuse 3 full days or tardy or absent more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on 3 occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof.”

• 5 Instances of Unexcused Absences/Cuts or 15 or more Unexcused Tardies (or a combination of the two): 

• 1st Written Notice of Truancy sent home 
• Off-campus lunch privileges revoked for up to the remainder of the term (may be restored sooner based upon progress made) 
• Administration will meet with family to review policies and identify root causes ➢ Create/update Attendance Success Plan (Ex: HERE) 
• The Dean of Students will monitor the student’s progress for 2 weeks. 

• If Unexcused Absences/Cuts/Tardies Continue: 

• 2nd Written Notice of Truancy sent home 
• Student will be considered “Habitually Truant” and referred to the site Attendance Team or SART Team for additional support/intervention ➢ Inter/Intra District Transfer Agreements reviewed (if applicable) 
• The AIT or SART Team will monitor progress for 2 weeks. 

• If Unexcused Absences/Cuts/Tardies Continue: 

• 3rd Written Notice of Truancy sent home 
• Student classified as “Chronically Truant” and may be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB), upon recommendation of the AIT or SART Team. 

• Additional Consequences: 

• Students with 15 or more unexcused absences or cuts per semester may receive a failing grade. 
• Ignoring school communications may result in a home visit from school administration (e.g., the Principal, Dean, etc) or law enforcement. 
• Students who are 16 years of age and considered truant may have their driving privileges revoked. 
• Parents of students who are chronically truant may be subject to fines or jail time. 

We want your students to be successful! 

Please reach out to the following staff members if you need any support: 

• Arcata High School Dean of Students, Juan-Antonio Santisteban: [email protected]; (707) 825-2401 
• Pacific Coast High School Principal, Jon Larson: [email protected]; (707) 825-2442 
• Six Rivers Charter High School Principal, Jen Coleman: [email protected]; (707) 825-2428 
• McKinleyville High School Dean of Students, Nic Collart: [email protected]; (707) 839-6401 
• Mad River High School Principal, Shanna McCracken: [email protected]; (707) 839-6480

Roles and Responsibilities: 

Students	Parents and Guardians
Arrive at class each day on time, with the materials you need to succeed. Read your class syllabi and get to know the expectations, routines, and policies of each of your classes. Communicate with your teachers if you need to be absent.  Check StudentVUE and Google Classroom often to monitor your attendance and academic progress.  Ask for help if you need it! Support is available for transportation, academics, physical and mental health, and basic needs. Any of our school counselors, social workers, or administrators can help connect you with appropriate resources.	Talk to your student about future career goals and the importance of attending school.   Help your student establish healthy habits and routines at home.  Review your student’s class syllabi and get to know the expectations, routines, and policies of each class.  Check ParentVUE or contact your school’s attendance office to confirm that your contact information is correct.  Check your phone and email settings to ensure that the school’s phone number and/or email is not blocked.  Review the school’s attendance policies and contact your school’s attendance clerk as soon as you know your student will need to be absent.  Check ParentVUE and Google Classroom often to monitor your student’s attendance and academic progress.
Teachers	Administration & Other School Staff
Greet students at the door and take attendance at the beginning of each period. Create and maintain a welcoming and affirming environment for all students.  Provide engaging and interactive curriculum and instruction that includes opportunities for peer collaboration and community building.  Clearly communicate classroom expectations, routines, policies, and procedures to students and families.  Provide timely, mastery-oriented feedback on coursework and update Synergy Gradebook and Google Classroom at least every two weeks.	Create and maintain a clean, healthy, welcoming, and safe school environment. Continue to offer free, high-quality, and nutritious breakfast and lunch options.  Clearly communicate school-wide schedules, calendars, policies, and procedures to students and families.  Identify students who are habitually tardy, chronically absent, and truant and take appropriate action.  Work with families to remove attendance barriers, provide support, and connect with appropriate service providers.