ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance Office Assistants:
Ms. Susana Valdez
Ms. Linda Broska
Ms. Lela Barnes  (ESPANOL)

Attendance Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
A twenty-four hour voice mail is also available. Call:

ALTERNATE ATTENDANCE PHONE NUMBERS ARE: 847-718-5602; 5603; OR 5604

How to Report an Absence from School:

To Report a Student’s Absence, Late Arrival, or Early Dismissal (Pass out of Building), please phone with this information:



PHILOSOPHY

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(ref. Board Policy Section 7:70)
The Board of Education authorizes the administration to develop and enforce procedures, which ensure regular student
attendance and accurate accounting for student absences. Attendance at school is required by state law. Being in the
classroom, doing the assigned work, and contributing to the class, all on a regular basis are important to success in school.
Only in the classroom can the student take full advantage of fellow classmates’ ideas, the teacher’s explanations, and
other material that enriches the class.

Compulsory School Attendance

This policy applies to individuals who have custody or control of a child:  (a) between the ages of 7 and 17 years of age (unless the child has graduated from high school), or (b) who is enrolled in any of grades, kindergarten through 12, in the public school regardless of age.  These individuals must cause the child to attend the District school wherein the child is assigned, except as provided herein or by State law.  Subject to specific requirements in State law, the following children are not required to attend public school:  (1) any child attending a private school (including a home school) or parochial school, (2) any child who is physically or mentally unable to attend school (including a pregnant student suffering medical complications as certified by her physician), (3) any child lawfully and necessarily employed, (4) any child over 12 and under 14 years of age while in confirmation classes, (5) any child absent because his or her religion forbids secular activity on a particular day, and (6) any child 16 years of age or older who is employed and is enrolled in a graduation incentives program.

The parent/guardian of a student who is enrolled must authorize all absences from school and notify the school in advance or at the time of the student’s absence.  A valid cause for absence includes illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, other situations beyond the control of the student, other circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s safety or health, or other reason as approved by the Superintendent or designee.

Absenteeism and Truancy Program

The Superintendent or designee shall manage an absenteeism and truancy program in accordance with The School Code and Board of Education policy.

 

Therefore, the Board of Education authorizes the administration in each building to develop and enforce procedures that ensure regular student attendance and accurate accounting for student absences.

TARDIES

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The following procedures will be followed to address tardiness to class:
1. Each classroom teacher will provide written information to their students regarding their tardy policy. The first
step of discipline will result in a teacher detention. This detention should be documented with the number of
tardies the student had at the time of the detention.
2. If the tardiness continues, a referral will be written by the teacher detailing the previous action to the Division
Head. The Division Head will assign an after school detention and indicate on the referral the expectations for the
future with the student.
3. If the tardiness still continues, a referral will be written by the teacher detailing the two previous actions and given
to the Dean. The Dean will meet with the student and assign a two-hour after school detention and indicate the
expectations for the future.
4. If the tardiness continues even further, the consequences will become progressive in the dean’s office.

ATTENDANCE CODES

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Excused Absences
PEX = Excused parental absence for illness, medical & dental appointment
LTE = Tardy, arrives to class within the first fifteen minutes without a pass
MED = Excused absence for illness, written documentation from doctor/dentist
EXE = Excused absence by parent request, non-medical reasons
ADM = Absence excused by Administration/school personnel
FT = Absence due to participation in an approved field trip
VAC = Vacation
HOM = Homebound
Unexcused Absences
CUT = Class cut
UNV = Absence is not accounted for, unauthorized within 48 hours
OSS = Absence due to out-of-school suspension
ISS = Absence due to in-school suspension
Unauthorized Absences
UNA = Did not follow procedures
After two unauthorized "UNA" absences in any class, subsequent unauthorized absences will be designated as unexcused,
and the student will move to the appropriate step on the attendance policy.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

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If student is absent from school, his or her parents need to call the attendance office by 10:00 am on the day of the
absence, if at all possible. Authorized calls will be accepted by the attendance office up to 10:00 am the following day
after the absence. After 10:00am the next day, the absence will be considered as an unauthorized absence. Failure of a
parent to call will result in the absence being considered unexcused. Appeals may be made to the student’s Dean.
Examples of excused absences include, but are not limited to:

• Personal illness or other physical disablement (Note * section below)
• Illness or death in the student’s family
• Family emergency
• Religious observances
• Court appearances
• Medical/Dental appointments (Follow prescribed procedures below)
• Permission from Nurse to go home
• Field Trip (Follow prescribed procedures below)
• Student Services division approved activity
• Administrator conference
• Other specific excuses dependent on the judgment of the Deans or designees.

Excused absences allow for full make-up privileges, including a reasonable amount of help from teachers. The student
must take the initiative for securing any work missed during an excused absence.
Students must attend a minimum of four consecutive class periods in order to participate in any practices, competitions or
school sponsored activities after school or during the evening the day of the absence. Only exceptions, is if the absence is
a result of court, funeral, field trip or a college visit. Written verification may be required.



Pre-Arranged Absences

When it is necessary for a student to be absent from school, the attendance office must receive prior notification according to the following procedures in order for the absence to be considered authorized:

 

College Visits - All college visits must be pre-approved through the college counselor.  The student must obtain a visitation form from the college counselor.

 

Religious Program of Instruction or Conference - A parent/legal guardian must notify the attendance office approximately two weeks before the absence.

 

Family Related Absences - Parents/legal guardians should make every attempt to schedule family trips around the school schedule.  However, when such trips must be made while school is in session, an application for pre-approved family related activities will be reviewed and considered for authorized status when students are absent from school. These absences are to be reviewed by, but not limited to: counselor, dean of students, associate principal, and principal.  The following criteria will be used to determine if the absences will be classified as authorized or unauthorized and to determine if discipline consequences are appropriate:

·       Review of progress towards graduation requirements

·       Total number of absences to date

·       Timelines established by teachers for completion of missed class assignments and tests

·       No more than nine (9) authorized family related activity days, 10 days if consecutive, of absences per semester will be granted.

 

After the pre-approved authorized days have been completed, the absence will be considered unauthorized.

When it is necessary for a student to be absent from school, and this is known in advance, the Attendance office must receive prior notification according to the following procedures in order for the absence to be excused: A parent/guardian should notify the Attendance office prior to the date of the absence, indicating the reason for the absence and its duration.

If the absence is for more than ten school days or more, the student/parents must follow the steps below:

• Obtain a pre-arranged absence form from the Attendance Office for all of their teachers to sign.
• They must also speak with their Dean to initiate the extended absence procedure.
• The extended absence procedure includes a letter to the student’s parents, which indicates the conditions placed
• on the student academically due to the absences, which will include the number of days the student has to
• complete the missed work. A parent signature is needed in order for the absences to be excused.
• **Only under extenuating circumstances will a student be allowed to take rescheduled semester exams.
• Authorization must be obtained through the Associate Principal’s office (Ms. Stanley only).
• Parents must submit written request at least four weeks prior to semester exams.

Late Arrival
When arriving late, it is necessary for the student’s parent to call the Attendance Office and state the reason for the student
being late. The student then must sign in at the attendance office. If the student does not sign in, the absence may not be
excused.

Period Absences
Period absences must be accounted for by the supervising teacher or staff member. It is the student’s responsibility to see
that this occurs at the time of the absence by obtaining a pass from the teacher or staff member with whom they spend the
class period. If there is a discrepancy in the student’s attendance, the student must see the classroom teacher.
Leaving School During the School Day
When it is necessary for a student to leave during the school day, a parent call is required in the Attendance Office
PRIOR to the time of the student’s departure. We are unable to allow the student to leave the campus without verbal
parental authorization. (A note will not be accepted) It is the student’s responsibility to then follow through with the
following procedures in order to avoid attendance consequences:
1. Obtain a pass from the attendance office to present to the classroom teacher when it is time to leave unless during
passing or the student’s lunch period.
If you are leaving or coming back during your lunch hour, you MUST STILL sign out in the Attendance office
2. Go to the attendance office and sign out.
3. If returning before the end of the school day, sign back in the Attendance Office.
If the above procedures are not followed, the student’s absence may be coded as an UNA or CUT. Continued disregard
for the procedure will result in disciplinary action.
Medical or Dental Absences
When a student must miss school and has seen a doctor, the parent may choose to obtain medical documentation
verifying the appointment. The documentation should include the name of the student, the doctor, the date and time of the
treatment or the dates the student was under the doctor’s care. (A generic form can be obtained from the attendance office
if desired) This information can then be provided to the school upon the student’s return and be coded as an M for
medical. This may become important later if the student exceeds their ten days per semester of excused absences. After
ten excused days in any one semester, medical documentation will be required and a letter will be sent home explaining
the details of this policy.

GOING HOME SICK

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Students who become ill or injured during the school day must request a pass from the classroom teacher in order to
access the School Nurse in the Health office. The nurse will then determine whether the student must go home due to
illness. If the nurse decides the student should go home, she (or her designee) will contact the parent/guardian. It will be
established at that time how the student will be transported home. The nurse will instruct the student to go to their locker
to obtain their belongings and then Attendance Office to sign out. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the
issuance of an unexcused absence and possible disciplinary action.
If a student wants to come to school during the day in which they have previously been called out, a call from the
parent/guardian must be received in the Attendance Office PRIOR to the student’s arrival back in school. It may be
necessary upon their arrival, for the school nurse to evaluate the health of the student to ensure they are well enough to be
in school.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

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If a student is feeling sick and does not feel they are able to participate in PE, they must follow the guidelines below:
1. The student must attend PE and notify their assigned teacher of how they feel.
2. The student may ask their assigned teacher for a pass to the nurse.
3. If the student decides to not access the nurse, they will remain in the supervised PE area determined by their
assigned teacher.
If a parent feels that due to an illness or injury their student is not able to participate in PE, they must follow the guidelines
below:
1. 1-3 school day parent notification
The parent must send a note with their student to give to their PE teacher upon entering the class the day they are
wishing to not participate.
2. 1-10 school day doctor note
A doctor note, which excuses a student from PE for 1-10 days, should be given to the student’s PE teacher. A
copy of the note is kept in the student’s health file.
3. Doctor notes longer than 10 school days
A doctor’s note excusing a student for more than 10 days must be given to the school nurse in the Health Office.
All notes should include a return date to regular PE. Students missing PE for more than 10 days are transferred to
Adaptive PE to work with the certified athletic trainer.
*Please Note* Any single absence from PE must be accompanied by a doctor note in order to be excused

OBTAINING HOMEWORK

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Parents and students are often concerned about students keeping current with class work when students are absent due to
illness. The following guidelines should assist students in keeping up to date with homework in the event of short-term
absences.
1. If a student will be absent one or two days, he or she may contact classmates to obtain homework assignments.
Often a course syllabus will indicate which assignments are due. Teachers may also be contacted directly by
phone or some through e-mail accessible through District 214’s website. www.d214.org
2. For prearranged absences, a student may ask the teacher which assignments will be missed.
3. If a student will be absent from three days to two weeks, the student or parent may contact the attendance office
at 718-5601, 5602 and ask that assignments be collected. The attendance office contacts teachers and asks for
work within 24 hours. Please call to confirm that work has been delivered before coming to the attendance office
to pick up homework.
4. Individual teachers may have additional homework guidelines or policies, which are explained on the academic
information sheet for each class.
5. If a student will be out for more than two weeks due to illness, he or she is entitled to homebound instruction
services if a medical condition is certified by a doctor. Please contact Mr. Nathan Aslinger to obtain a
medical certification form and arrange for a homebound tutor.
* Excessive excused absences that accumulate to 10 or more full days of school will result in parental contact by
the student’s Dean. (or designee)
* It may be necessary for these absences to be reviewed by an administrative team including, but not limited to:
Dean of Students, Counselor, Associate Principal, and Principal.
Messages/Deliveries to Students
Please note that during the school day the Attendance office cannot accept nor deliver personal messages to students. Only
in the case of IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEDICAL EMERGENCY can a message be delivered.

UNEXCUSED/UNAUTHORIZED ABSENCES

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Some absences that occur at the discretion of the student and/or parent may not be considered excused. The belief of
the school is that students benefit most from uninterrupted contact with their teachers in the learning environment.
Therefore, absences that occur for the following reasons will be considered unexcused or unauthorized, respecting the
parents’/guardians’ wishes to have their student out of school:
Examples of unauthorized absences may include but are not limited to:
* Class cutting * All day truancy
* Birthdays * Failure to sign in or sign out
* Job interview * Oversleeping
* Shopping trips * Missed school bus
* Beauty appointments (Dances) * Car trouble
* Baby-sitting * Late call
* Excessive parent calls * Runaways
* Extended lunch or breakfast * Undocumented health-related absences
* Senior Ditch Day * Pre-Approved Family Related Activity daysexceeding
the pre-approved limit
When an absence is unexcused, a student will be permitted to make up the work missed. Credit given for such work will
be at the discretion of the teacher who will establish reasonable time limits for its completion. The student may request a
review of these decisions by the Division Head.
Ditch Day
Rolling Meadows High School does not support a "senior ditch day." We ask parents to support us in taking a stance against
"ditch day." When an excessive number of students are out of class, their absence negatively impacts the educational
process in the building. Should a student make the decision to participate in "ditch day," the absence will be treated as
unexcused. Medical documentation may be requested to excuse any absence on such day.
Attendance Detail Letter
A letter is sent home every two weeks to all parents/guardians in the event that your student should receive an unexcused
absence during the week. It is important that parents or guardians read the entire section in the handbook under attendance
and review the specific attendance codes listed in this book to aid in understanding the contents of the letter. When in
doubt, the student should consult the classroom teacher who marked the student absent.