A. Policy Expectations
The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education considers a student’s involvement in class participation as essential to a student’s educational success. Absences will adversely affect grades; however grades shall not arbitrarily be lowered because of absences even though absences may be unlawful.
In order to be promoted from one grade level to the next in grades K-8, a student shall be in attendance for 160 days (20 days absent - lawful or unlawful) during the school year. Absences are calculated on a daily basis. A student shall be in attendance at least one-half day in order to be counted “present” for the day. A student who enrolls after the 20th day of school must be in attendance 89% of the remaining days in the school term in order to be eligible for promotion.
In order to receive credit for a high school course, a student shall be in attendance for 83 days (7 days absent - lawful or unlawful) during each semester. If a high school offers a daily extended day opportunity that allows students to make up class time missed, a high school student shall make up all time missed equivalent to the 180 days. Absences are calculated on a period by period basis for each course. A student shall be in attendance at least one-half of a class period in order to be counted “present” for that class. A student who enrolls after the 15th day of school must be in attendance 92% of the remaining days in the school term in order to be eligible for promotion.
The grades and absences for a student transferring within the Rowan-Salisbury system will be considered to determine if a student has met academic and attendance requirements in order to be promoted or receive course credit.
The grades for a student transferring into the Rowan-Salisbury system will be considered to determine if a student has met academic requirements in order to be promoted or receive course credit.
B. Make Up Work Due to Absences
Students having absences are expected to make up work. Make up work is intended to maintain continuity of the student’s learning and educational program. The exact nature of the make up work is at the teacher’s discretion with the exception of the final examination for the grading period in grades nine through twelve. It may or may not be exactly the same as the work the student missed, but it shall at least be of a similar nature. It is the responsibility of the student and/or parent to contact the teacher(s) about make up work during planning or duty-free periods or before or after school hours. The number of days allowed for the completion of make up work shall be one day greater than the number of days the student was absent. Work assigned prior to the absence and due while the student was absent shall be due on the day the student returns to school. Students who are suspended out-of-school are lawfully absent. However, students suspended out-of-school will be expected to make-up work missed while they are suspended. (Also, see previous sections on Homebound Instruction and the Pregnant Adolescent Program).
Note: When students are suspended during final examinations the principal shall decide whether or not exams are taken after school is out or during the regular exam period. This note does not apply to students who are suspended for the rest of the year.
C. Senior Exam Exemption
A senior will be not be required to take the final exam in any course during the second semester of the senior year, if he meets one of the following conditions:
Has an A average and no more than 3 absences for the semester.
Has a B average and no more than 2 absences for the semester.
Any absence (lawful or unlawful) is considered to determine the number the of absences in each course. This regulation will not be in effect for courses in which an End-of-Course test or VOCATS test is administered. A senior enrolled in a course for which an End-of-Course or VOCATS test is administered must take the test and it shall count toward the final course grade as mandated by state law and Rowan-Salisbury School System test regulations.
D. Academic Attendance Policy - Parent Notification
The appropriate school personnel (i.e., principal or teacher) shall follow these procedures regarding the academic attendance policy:
1. For students enrolled in grades K-8, written notification of all absences (lawful or unlawful) shall be sent to the parent as follows:
a. Following ten (10) absences - By regular mail (Teacher)
b. Following fifteen (15) absences - By regular mail
(Teacher, with principal’s signature)
c. Following twenty-one (21) absences - By regular mail
This will constitute final notice of non-promotion, unless an appeal is made within 30 calendar days or within 10 calendar days of the end of the school year after the letter has been sent and a waiver is granted by the Attendance Review Committee.
2. For all high school students, written notification for all absences (lawful or unlawful) for each course that the student is enrolled shall be sent to the parents.
a. Following 3 absences in any course, the teacher of said course will mail a letter informing the parent(s) of the 3 absences. It is the responsibility of the parent to contact the teacher regarding the absences.
b. Following 8 absences in any course, the school administration will mail a letter informing the parent(s) that the student may lose course credit unless a written appeal is delivered and approved by the school principal (or designee). It is the responsibility of the parent to contact the school concerning the approval of the appeal.