Attendance

Attendance is related directly to grades.  Students who attend school have better grades than students with numerous absences.  We have high expectations for student attendance at George Whittell High School and carefully monitor student absences.  Board Policy 504 establishes a (90%) attendance rule, and for a secondary school student to receive credit for a class he/she must be in attendance 68 instructional days per class the first semester and 70 instructional days per class for the second semester.  Failure to meet these criteria may result in loss of credit.  There is an appeal application process in place which allows the review of the total number of absences per semester.

Remember, ALL absences from school count against the 90% rule, to include but not limited to:  Pre-arranged absences (PAA’s), illnesses, medical appointments, family emergencies, etc.   BP 504

Chronic Absenteeism in the Nevada School Performance Framework (NSPF)

The federal definition of chronic absenteeism that State Education Agencies must use in reporting absenteeism is as follows: A student is absent if he or she is not physically on school grounds and is not participating in instruction or instruction-related activities at an approved off-grounds location for the school day. Chronically absent students include students who are absent for any reason (e.g., illness, suspension, medical, dental, vacation etc), regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused. Students who are absent 10% or more of their enrolled school days are considered chronically absent.

Whittell’s Chronic Absenteeism Scores (Middle Sch: 18% vs 13% Dist. & High Sch:  26% vs. Dist. 19%).  

Parents, we need your help to ensure that we decrease our chronic absenteeism rate for the success of all students.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

The Douglas County School Board of Education recognizes the following reasons for valid student absence from school: BP 504 .

• Illness (For extended absences due to health issues, homebound instruction may be provided.

• BP 209

• Emergency medical or dental care                       (Note from doctor/dentist may be required)

• Death in immediate family

Procedures for clearing excused absences are as follows:

If a student is absent, parents must call the office or write a note explaining the reason for the absence.  The note should include the following: day and date of absence, reason clearly stated, date the note is being written, and a parent signature.  Students are not allowed to sign their parent’s name. For an absence due to a medical appointment, the doctor’s office will give ‘a student excuse’ to present to the school office. IF A CALL/NOTE IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THREE SCHOOL DAYS, THE ABSENCE WILL BE LISTED AS TRUANCY.       

To attend an after-school activity you must be in school for half of the instructional time, three full periods.  If a student goes home due to illness, he/she is not allowed to participate in a school event even if he/she has been in school 3 periods.  If the event is held on Friday, then the rule applies to Thursday.