Attendance policies in the Fayette County Public Schools

Pupils are required to attend regularly and punctually the school in which they are enrolled.

Truancy

Any pupil who has been absent from school without valid excuse for three days or more, or tardy without valid excuse on three days or more, is a truant. A pupil who has been reported as a truant two or more times is considered a habitual truant. Habitual truancy is defined as having six unexcused absences or six unexcused tardies. Absence for 60 minutes or less shall be considered tardiness.

Tardiness

A student is considered tardy if he or she arrives after the designated school start time or leaves before the end of the instructional day. Students must be checked in or out of school by a parent, guardian, or authorized adult. Late arrivals or early dismissals will be counted as an absence or tardy according to the arrival/departure time. The process for determining whether tardiness to school is excused or unexcused is identical to that for excused and unexcused absences.

Excused Absences

An excused absence or tardiness is one for which work may be made up, such as:

1. Death or severe illness in the pupil's immediate family;
2. Illness of the pupil:
   • After a total of ten (10) cumulative full-day absences due to illness, students are required to present a written statement from a medical professional (doctor, dentist, psychologist, etc.) for each additional absence for the school year in order to be excused.
   • After a total of ten (10) cumulative tardies due to illness, students are required to present a written statement from a medical professional (doctor, dentist, psychologist, etc.) for each additional tardy for the school year in order to be excused.
3. Religious holidays and practices approved in advance with the Principal;
4. Medical and dental appointments (times and dates shall be verified by the physician's signed statement);
   Students will be excused only for the length of time of a scheduled doctor's appointment and a reasonable amount of travel time. Doctor's excuses shall state the date(s) and/or number of days for which the student will be excused.
5. Family emergencies requiring immediate attention are limited to three cumulative absent events per school year. Additional absent events must have the approval of the Principal to be excused. (An absent event is defined as tardy, half-day, or full-day absence.)
6. One (1) day for attendance at the Kentucky State Fair per Kentucky State Law;
7. Three (3) visits to colleges or universities approved in advance by the Principal and restricted to seniors. Documentation from the college visited will be required;
8. Court appearance requiring the student's attendance. Students will be excused only for the length of time of the scheduled court appearance; or
9. Documented military leave;
   • One (1) day prior to departure of parent/guardian called to active military duty;
   • One (1) day upon the return of parent/guardian from active military duty;
10. Up to ten (10) school days to pursue an educational enhancement opportunity determined by the Principal to be of significant educational value. This opportunity may include, but not be limited to, participation in an educational foreign exchange program or an intensive instructional, experiential, or performance program in one (1) of the core curriculum subjects of English, science, mathematics, social studies, foreign language, and the arts.
    
11. Other valid reasons as determined by the Principal.

Unexcused Absences

All other absences shall be considered unexcused; and no make-up work shall be allowed for unexcused absences. However, for students with unexcused absences with reasons other than suspension from school, make-up work may be permitted if the Principal (after consultation with the teacher) approves the make-up work.

Notes required

Within three days of students' return to school, they shall present notes signed by their parents/guardians or medial professional to designated school personnel. If notes are not received within three days, the absence shall be deemed unexcused.

Make-up work

It is the students' or parents' responsibility to contact the school for make-up work. Students shall be allowed the same number of days to complete make-up work, as they were absent, plus one (1).

Although pupils are not entitled, in general, to make up work missed for absences because of suspension from school, it is the goal of the District that every pupil succeed academically and that failures in any subject be avoided. Accordingly, students having absences because of suspensions from school are allowed to do the following:

• Take major tests (e.g., finals or unit tests) for credit upon returning from a suspension;
• Have homework checked for accuracy without credit; and
• Hand in major projects or term papers, without loss of credit.

If a student is excusably absent for only one (1) day, he or she may secure a make-up assignment when he or she returns to school. (Parents who feel they have special circumstances may request assignments on the first day of absence.)

If a student is excusably absent for more than one (1) day and there is a desire to secure make-up assignments before the student returns to school, a request for assignments may be made by calling the Principal's office or the counseling office within one (1) hour of the beginning of the school day on the day the student's parents wish to pick up the assignments. Personnel will endeavor to have the assignments available for pick up by the end of the school day.

If there is a special need, a message for a teacher to call the parent may be left with the Principal or counselor.

Tobacco Free Policy

The Fayette County Public Schools prohibits the use of all tobacco products in buildings, on grounds, or a field trip. The exception to the prohibition is the use of tobacco on school grounds during athletic events or other school events. Tobacco products may not be used in any school building at any time.

No Tolerance Policy

Any student in possession of a deadly weapon, as defined in Section V. of the Student Code of Conduct, shall be suspended from school. The principal shall report the incident to the Board of Education for an expulsion hearing. The principal shall file a complaint/offense report with the division of law enforcement for each such incident. Incidents concerning students with disabilities shall be determined on a case-by-case basis as required by law. 

Visits in Schools

Possible dangers to students resulting from unauthorized or unknown persons being in schools have prompted the district to install security equipment in schools. Cameras and a buzzer system have been placed in each school to monitor individuals entering schools after the beginning of each school day.

Students are not permitted to visit other schools or have guests during the school day without written permission, prior to the visit, from principals of both schools.

No Pass No Drive Law

Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, the Fayette County Public School System will be implementing the No Pass/No Drive Law that involves every public and private school across the state.

According to the Kentucky Revised Statue 159.051, any 16 or 17 year-old student who becomes academically deficient or deficient in attendance will be reported to the Transportation Cabinet for driver’s license revocation.

A student is academically deficient if he or she has not received passing grades in at least four courses, or the equivalent of four courses taken in the preceding semester.

A student is deficient in attendance when he or she drops out of school or has nine or more unexcused absences for the preceding semester. Suspensions are considered unexcused absences.

All students must present a verification of enrollment to apply for a driver’s license, intermediate license, or learner’s driving permit.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school or Gary Wiseman.

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Last update: 8/9/2007 7:00:48 AM