Attendance

What does the law say about attendance?

According to state law, it is the obligation of every parent/guardian to ensure that every child under their care and supervision receives adequate education and training, and if of compulsory attendance age, attends school.
 
When students fail to attend classes without an excuse, both they and their parents or guardians are breaking the law. Colorado law requires every child who has attained the age of 6 on or before August 1st and is under 17 to attend public school with such exception as provided by law. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure attendance.
 
Because we believe in the importance of attending classes and because state law requires attendance to be monitored, Durango 9-R will pursue every avenue of compliance, including but not limited to, referrals to a school multi-agency assessment review team (SMART), diversion programs with La Plata Youth Services and filing a formal complaint against parents/guardians with the district court.
 

Excused Absences

We recognize that your student may not be able to attend school because of illness, family emergency, academic or athletic activities, or other conditions.
 
The following shall be considered excused absences:
  • A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis.
  • Prearranged absences shall be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours such as:
    • Student is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental or emotional disability.
    • Student is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.
    • Student is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.
    • Student is suspended or expelled.
 
As applicable, the district may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources.
Parents/guardians are expected to notify the school office the day of the student’s absence.
 

Unexcused Absences

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions. Each unexcused absence shall be entered on the student’s record. The parents/guardians of the student receiving an unexcused absence shall be notified orally or in writing by the district of the unexcused absence.
 
In accordance with law, the district may impose appropriate penalties that relate directly to classes missed while unexcused. If a student is absent without an excuse signed or verified by the parent/guardian, or if the student leaves school or a class without permission of the teacher or administrator in charge, the student shall be considered truant.
 
A “habitual truant” shall be defined as a student of compulsory attendance age who has 4 days of unexcused absences from public school in any one-month, or 10 days of unexcused absences from any school year.
 
Each school shall establish a system of monitoring individual unexcused absences. Schools will mark an absence unexcused when a student fails to report on a regularly scheduled school day and school personnel have received no indication from the parent or school event organizers and/or administrators that it is an excusable absence.
 
A school attendance plan shall be developed for a student who is at risk of being declared habitually truant with the goal of assisting the child to remain in school.

 

Chronic Absences

A student is chronically absent if he or she is absent, excused or unexcused for 10% or more of the school year. The school district will work with students and families to improve student attendance using best practices and research-based strategies.
 

La Plata Youth Services Diversion Program

Students will be referred to La Plata Youth Services (LPYS) Diversion Program if they are unsuccessful in improving their attendance. LPYS will work with school representatives and community agencies to provide additional support to students and families to ensure school attendance. If students and families do not comply with the agency plan, LPYS will notify school officials who will then take steps to file charges in district court.
 

Court Action

The courts may issue orders against the child, child’s parent, or both compelling the child to attend school or the parent to take reasonable steps to assure their child’s attendance. The order may require the parent, child, or both to follow an appropriate treatment plan that addresses problems affecting the child’s school attendance and that ensures an opportunity for the child to obtain a quality education.
 
 
Please see the full District policy below:
Book District Policies
Section Section J - Students
Title Student Absences and Excuses
Code JH
Status Active
Adopted September 25, 2012
Last Revised August 25, 2020
Last Reviewed August 25, 2020
 
BOARD POLICY

Student Absences and Excuses

One criteria of a student's success in school is regular and punctual attendance. Frequent absences may lead to poor academic work, lack of social development and possible academic failure. Regular attendance is of utmost importance for school interest, social adjustment and scholastic achievement. No single factor may interfere with a student's progress more quickly than frequent tardiness or absence.
 
According to state law, it is the obligation of every parent/guardian to ensure that every child under their care and supervision receives adequate education and training and, if of compulsory attendance age, attends school.
 
Continuity in the learning process and social adaptation is seriously disrupted by excessive absences. In most situations, the work missed cannot be made up adequately. Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more and are more employable after leaving school. For at least these reasons, the district believes that a student must satisfy two basic requirements in order to earn full class credit: (1) satisfy all academic requirements and (2) exhibit good attendance habits as stated in this policy.
 

Excused absences

The following will be considered excused absences:

  1. 1. A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the administrator of the school of attendance on a prearranged basis. Prearranged absences will be approved for appointments or circumstances of a serious nature only which cannot be taken care of outside of school hours.
    2. A student who is absent for an extended period due to a physical disability or a mental or behavioral health disorder.
    3. A student who is pursuing a work-study program under the supervision of the school.
    4. A student who is attending any school-sponsored activity or activities of an educational nature with advance approval by the administration.
    5. A student who is suspended or expelled. 8/18/2021 BoardDocs® Pro
 
As applicable, the district may require suitable proof regarding the above exceptions, including written statements from medical sources.
 
If a student is in out-of-home placement [as that term is defined by C.R.S. 22-32-138(1)(h)], absences due to court appearances and participation in court-ordered activities will be excused. The student’s assigned social worker must verify the student’s absence was for a court appearance or court-ordered activity.
 

Unexcused absences

An unexcused absence is defined as an absence that is not covered by one of the foregoing exceptions. Each unexcused absence will be entered on the student's record. The parents/guardians of the student receiving an unexcused absence will be notified orally or in writing by the district of the unexcused absence.
 
In accordance with law, the district may impose appropriate penalties that relate directly to classes missed while unexcused. Penalties may include a warning, school detention or in-school suspension. Academic penalties, out-of-school suspensions or expulsion will not be imposed for any unexcused absence.
 
The administration will develop procedures to implement appropriate penalties. The school administration will consider the correlation between course failure, truancy and a student dropping out of school in developing these procedures and will implement research-based strategies to re-engage students with a high number of unexcused absences.
 
Students and parents/guardians may petition the Board of Education for exceptions to this policy provided that no exception will be sustained if the student fails to abide by all requirements imposed by the Board as conditions for granting any such exception.
 
The maximum number of unexcused absences a student may incur before judicial proceedings are initiated to enforce compulsory attendance is ten (10) days during any calendar year or school year.
 

Chronic absenteeism

When a student has an excessive number of absences, these absences negatively impact the student’s academic success. For this reason, a student who has 15 total absences in a school year, whether the absences are excused or unexcused, may be identified as “chronically absent” by the principal or designee. Absences due to suspension or expulsion will not be counted in the total number of absences considered for purposes of identifying a student as “chronically absent.”
 
If a student is identified as “chronically absent,” the principal or designee will develop a plan to improve the student’s attendance. The plan will include best practices and research-based strategies to address the reasons for the student’s chronic absenteeism, including but not limited to: referral to the court system, referral to community partners to support the student/family, requirement that students remain in a current grade to gain necessary mastery of skills prior to grade promotion, withdrawal of credit for courses enrolled, elimination of elective courses to increase time in core classes, or home visits by staff/administration. When practicable, the student’s parent/guardian will participate in the development of the plan.
 
Nothing herein will require the principal or designee to identify a student as “chronically absent” prior to declaring the student as a “habitual truant” and pursuing court proceedings against the student and his or her parents/guardians to compel the student’s attendance in accordance with state law.
 

Make-up work

Make-up work shall be provided for any class in which a student has an excused absence unless otherwise determined by the building administrator or unless the absence is due to the student’s expulsion from school. It is the responsibility of the student to pick up any make-up assignments permitted on the day returning to class. There shall be one (1) day allowed for make-up work for each day of absence.
 
Make-up work will be allowed following an unexcused absence or following a student’s suspension from school with the goal of providing the student an opportunity to keep up with the class and an incentive to attend school. This work may receive full or partial credit to the extent possible as determined by the building administrator.
 
Unless otherwise permitted by the building administrator, make-up work will not be provided during a student’s expulsion. Rather, the district will offer alternative education services to the expelled student in accordance with state law. The district will determine the amount of credit the expelled student will receive for work completed during any alternative education program.
 

Tardiness

Tardiness is defined as the appearance of a student without proper excuse after the scheduled time that a class begins. Because of the disruptive nature of tardiness and the detrimental effect upon the rights of the non-tardy student to uninterrupted learning, appropriate penalties may be imposed for excessive tardiness. Parents/ guardians will be notified of all penalties regarding tardiness.
 
In an unavoidable situation, a student detained by another teacher or administrator will not be considered tardy provided that the teacher or administrator gives the student a pass to enter the next class. Teachers will honor passes presented in accordance with this policy. The provisions of this policy are applicable to all students in the district, including those above and below the age for compulsory attendance as required by law.
 
 
Adopted by the superintendent: prior to 2012
Revised and recoded by the Board: September 25, 2012; August 25, 2020
 
 
LEGAL REFS.:
 
  • C.R.S. 22-14-101 et seq. (dropout prevention and student re-engagement)
  • C.R.S. 22-32-109 (1)(n) (length of school year, instruction & contact time)
  • C.R.S. 22-32-109.1 (2)(a) (conduct and discipline code)
  • C.R.S. 22-32-138 (6) (excused absence requirements for students in out-of-home placements)
  • C.R.S. 22-33-101 et seq. (School Attendance Law of 1963)
  • C.R.S. 22-33-105 (3)(d)(III) (opportunity to make up work during suspension)
  • C.R.S. 22-33-108 (judicial proceedings to enforce school attendance laws)
  • C.R.S. 22-33-203 (educational alternatives for expelled students and determination of credit)
  • 1 CCR 301-78 Rules 1.00 et seq. (standardized calculation for counting student attendance and truancy)
 
CROSS REFS.:
  • Administrative policies:
  • EBCE, Closing and Cancellations
  • IC/ICA, School Year/School Calendar/Instruction Time
  • JEA, Compulsory Attendance Ages
  • JF-R, Admission and Denial of Admission (Procedures for Students in Out-of-Home Placements)
  • JFC, Student Withdrawal from School/Dropouts
  • JHB, Truancy
  • JK, Student Discipline
  • JKD/JKE, Suspension/Expulsion of Students
  • JLIB, Student Dismissal Precautions
 
Board policies: OE-08, Communication with and Support for the Board, 8.5