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LIVINGSTON PARISH ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR STUDENTS

The Livingston Parish School Board believes regular attendance in the school accompanied by the responsibility to study and participate in school activities is essential to the learning process. Once a pupil arrives at school, he/she is expected to remain and attend each class throughout the day.

Elementary and secondary students shall be present the minimum number of days as required by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and enumerated in the Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, to receive credit for courses taken. Exception can be made only in the event of extended personal illness verified by a physician's statement or if other extenuating circumstances exist and are approved by the Supervisor of Child Welfare in consultation with the school principal. Exception may also be made for schools operating on other than the traditional 182 day school calendar. Currently, the state's attendance policies require elementary students to be in attendance at least 160 days per school year and high school students are to be in attendance 80 days per semester in order to be eligible to receive credit for courses taken. The actual number of days of allowable absences is the difference between 80 days per semester or 160 days per school year and the number of student attendance days in the Board's adopted school calendar.

When a child has been absent from school for three consecutive school days or in excess of a total of five nonconsecutive days the school shall attempt to provide verbal notification and, if such verbal notification cannot be provided, then shall provide written notification to a child's parent, tutor, or legal guardian.

All students shall be under the jurisdiction of the school during normal school hours, from the time the student arrives at school each day until he/she leaves the school campus in the afternoon. In case a student rides a bus, he/she shall be under the jurisdiction of the school from the time he/she boards the bus until the student exits the bus in the afternoon. Students shall be under the jurisdiction of the school while attending any school sponsored activity either at school or away from school. This shall apply to all students, including athletic teams, pep clubs, band and other student organizations. In disciplinary matters, the Board's authority may extend beyond the limits set forth above, in accordance with state law. It is very important for students to be present and punctual. Absenteeism and tardiness must be guarded against at all times. Students need to attend school regularly to insure proper training in punctuality, acceptance of responsibility, and to develop good effects on attitudes. Emergencies, sickness or death in the immediate family are the only reasons accepted for absenteeism.

Each school shall develop and implement a system whereby the school shall attempt to provide verbal notification and, if such verbal notification cannot be provided, then shall provide written notification to a child’s parent, tutor, or legal guardian when that child has been absent from school for three consecutive school days or in excess of a total of five non-consecutive days.

If a student is tardy or absent, the parent or guardian must submit a written excuse, signed and dated, to the school upon the student’s return to classes, stating the reason for the student’s absence from school. A doctor’s written statement of student’s incapacity to attend school is acceptable. All excuses for student’s absence, including physician’s verification of extended personal illness, must be presented within five school days of student’s return to school, or student will be unexcused and not allowed to make up missed work.

Upon a student having received his/her fifth unexcused tardy, either for unexcused tardiness to school in the morning or to a class during the day, in a semester, disciplinary action shall be imposed for each unexcused tardy the student received for the remainder of that semester.

Should a parent or guardian need to take his/her child out of school during the day, the parent or guardian must contact the principal. This is for the child’s protection. Reasons for removal other than those involving emergencies, sickness or death, are not accepted as valid. Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:221, 17:226, :227; Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, State Department of Education; Board minutes, 6-77, 2-79, 1-80, 8-81, 9-83, 3-84, 6-87, 9-91.