Attendance Policy

ATTENDANCE

There is a direct correlation between academic achievement and regular attendance. Frequent absences, excused or unexcused, or tardiness in a class may seriously impact a student’s academic progress.

The Revised School Code (380.1561) states that "...every parent, guardian or other person in this state having control and charge of a child from the age of six to the child's eighteenth birthday shall send that child to the public schools during the entire school year. The child's attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the school year fixed by the school district in which the child is enrolled."

A student may be excused for chronic/serious illness, religious observances, family bereavement, mandatory court appearance, college visits or other reasons approved by a building administrator.  When a student is absent from school, their parent/guardian must follow the attendance procedures outlined below.

A student with an excused or exempted absence has the right to complete the work missed and receive credit for it. Class discussions and activities cannot be duplicated. Students will receive one day for each day excused absent to make up work. This includes tests and quizzes. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all necessary makeup work. Assignments or assessments given to the student prior to their absence will be due upon the student’s return. School-sponsored activities are exempted absences. This includes field trips, athletic contests, counselor appointments, student club obligations, school business, etc.

When entering or leaving the building at times other than the beginning or end of the school day, a student must "sign in" or "sign out" in the designated office. Students will receive an admittance slip to get into their classroom if they arrived late or the student will be given permission to leave the building if they are signing out.

Attendance Procedures – Elementary

Troy elementary schools shall develop procedures for addressing student truancy in the form of excessive unexcused absences or tardies. Any attendance policies involving potential disciplinary consequences for a student (restorative practices, detentions, suspensions, etc.) shall be communicated to students and parents at the beginning of each year.

Attendance Procedures – Middle School & High School

Tardiness – Students are expected to arrive on time to all classes. Students who arrive within five minutes after the start of class will be marked tardy to the class. Students who arrive later than five minutes will receive an unexcused tardy. Students are afforded 3 tardies per class per secondary marking period without penalty. Subsequent tardies in any specific class will prompt the assignment of a detention. Ongoing tardiness in the same class shall cause additional disciplinary action. 

Absences – Students are expected to attend class on a regular basis.  Excused absences include mandatory court appearance, chronic/serious illness, religious observances, school suspension, family bereavement, school-sponsored field trip/activity, or other reasons approved by a building administrator. Students should work with their assigned building administrator to ensure that attendance records are accurate. The student and family maintain the responsibility for communicating with the school about the nature of any absences and providing all necessary documentation for absences of a specialized nature. Furthermore, any documentation substantiating special absences from school must be provided to a school administrator in a timely fashion following the absences. For an absence to be excused, a parent must call the attendance office to notify the school of the absence within 24 hours of the absence.

Long-term absences, in excess of 5 days, must be prearranged and approved one week in advance through the submission of an Extended Absence form available in each school’s main office. This will allow students to receive assignments in advance of the absence when possible and notify the school ahead of any extended time away from school. 

Long-term absences and chronic absences have a negative impact on student achievement.  Many classroom experiences are not able to be recreated (discussions, lab work, group assignments) and can negatively impact a student’s grade.

Families will be informed of poor attendance patterns; email communication will be provided including class attendance status at the 5, 7 and 9 absence point in any semester. The communication will be issued by the school including the course name, total number of absences, and the absence designation as excused or unexcused. Chronic absenteeism will result in a meeting with school staff and a referral to Oakland County Truancy Officer and other county resources. 

If an absence is unexcused, students may not be permitted to make up the work missed or due during that period (this includes missed assessments/tests, labs, presentations, or other assignments).  Any absence that is not excused within 24 hours of the absence, it will remain an unexcused absence.