Attendance

Students shall be counted in attendance if they are actually present at school at the time the attendance is taken or are away from school on a school day and engaged in an educational activity that constitutes a part of the school approved instructional program for the student (Section 1003.23, Florida Statutes).  The Lee County School Board Policy 4.16 states that after nine absences in a course, credit may be withheld.  The Attendance Review Committee must develop a contract with the student and parents with a plan to restore the withheld credit.

Attendance Standard

1. All students are expected to be on time and present each day school is open during the school year.
2. All appointments should be scheduled outside of the school day.
3. If a student is absent more than 9 days, in a course each semester, they may be denied credit for that course and have to repeat the semester of that course.
4. Documentation is very important!

• Documentation must be provided within 5 school days for an excused absence.

1. The school principal or designee is the only person authorized to excuse a student’s absence.

• A note from a parent/guardian is a request that a student's absence be excused.
  • A student is allowed 9 parent notes a semester.
• When a student accumulates an excessive number of absences (5 days in a calendar month or 10 days within 90 calendar days) and additional absences occur, which are caused by illness, a written statement from a physician verifying that the absence was caused by an illness may be required by the principal to be submitted by the parent/guardian (School Board Policy 4.16).

1. Habitual tardiness is defined as six (6) or more tardies to school or to an individual class per quarter.
2. For enforcement of compulsory school attendance, three unexcused tardies or unexcused early sign-outs may, at the discretion of the school principal, be considered equal to one day of absence.
3. Excessive absences also will result in driver’s licenses being suspended/revoked from the State.