Students are required to be in attendance in public schools in NC as required in General Statue 115C-378. Students' attendance will be a major factor in determining promotion to the next grade level. A student must be present at least one-half of the school day, until 11:30, to be counted in attendance.

The following reasons can be accepted by school officials as valid excuses for school absences and tardies. All other reasons will be coded as unexcused absences and tardies.

1. Illness or injury of the student

2. Quarantine

3. Death in the immediate family

4. Medical or dental appointments of the student

5. Court or administrative proceedings if the student is required to attend.

6. Religious Observance

7. Educational Opportunity - Must have prior approval from the principal.

Family vacations are not excused absences.

8. Short term suspension

A telephone call will be made to the students' residence on the day of an absence to confirm the reason for absence. When a student is absent, the student must, upon returning to school, bring a written excuse signed by the parent/guardian with proper dates and reason. When the student fails to bring a note, the absence will be recorded as unlawful or unexcused. The student has two days to bring a note to have the unlawful absence replaced with a lawful or excused absence.

After three unlawful or unexcused absences, the parent will be notified by mail. After six unlawful or unexcused absences, the parent will be notified by certified mail that they are in violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law. After ten unlawful or unexcused absences, a decision will be made concerning prosecution in district court of the unlawful absences.

Any work missed during an absence must be made up. The responsibility for getting the required make-up work will be on student. All students will be counted absent if they arrive after 11:30 a.m. or leave school prior to 11:30 a.m. They must be in school half a day to be counted present. After ten absences have been accumulated in a school year, a doctor's excuse will need to be provided for any additional absence or these absences will be counted unlawful.

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