PARENTAL NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCES
Parents will be contacted via the school computer and telephone system every time the student misses a class. Thus it is very important to keep the school informed of any changes in contact information on the Emergency and Contact Information sheet.

EXCUSED/UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
Excused absences, as described by the Polk County Code of Student Conduct Section 2.01 include:

• Any absence - If a note signed by the parent is submitted within two student attendance days upon return to school and it does not occur more than 10 attendance days in 1st period and 5 attendance days in periods 2 thru 7 per semester.

DRIVER LICENSE APPOINTMENTS ARE UNEXCUSED

• Illness or Death in the Immediate Family - if a note signed by the parent is submitted upon return to school.
• Religious Holidays - if the parent gives written notice not more than 5 days prior to the absence.
• Educational Trips - if prearranged with the teacher and approved by the principal. The student must submit a written report of the trip to the teacher.
• Trips with Parents - if prearranged and approved by the school administration. Emergencies will not be excused unless determined by the principal.
• School Sponsor Activities - if the activities were prearranged with the school administration.
• Judicial Actions - if a copy of the subpoena or court summons is provided upon return to school. Placement in a Juvenile Detention Center shall be an excused absence.

Unexcused absences, as described by the Polk County Code of Student Conduct Section 2.01 include:
Any absence that does not meet the criterion of an excused absence listed above. DRIVER LICENSE APPOINTMENTS ARE UNEXCUSED!

DOCUMENTATION OF MEDICAL AND LEGAL EXCUSED ABSENCES.
The following documentation should be turned in to Mrs. Ridner in the Attendance office:
A) Medical forms
B) Court-ordered appearances
C)Traffic accidents directly involving the student
D)Funeral (In Memoriam) document
E) Note concerning illness signed by parent as noted above

TARDY POLICY : (PER SEMESTER)
IF YOU ARE TARDY WITHOUT A MEDICAL, LEGAL OR DENTAL EXCUSE, THE DISCIPLINE POLICY IS AS FOLLOWS:
1st Tardy: Report to Learning Center. (You will be marked absent from class)
2nd Tardy: Report to Learning Center. (You will be marked absent from class)
3rd Tardy: Report to Learning Center. (You will be marked absent from class)
4th Tardy: Report to Learning Center. (You will be marked absent from class)
5th Tardy: Report to Learning Center. (Warning and parent is called by Dean)
Subsequent Tardies: Referral to Dean's Office.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCE CONSEQUENCES:

15 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES IN A ROLLING 90- DAY PERIOD WILL RESULT IN THE STUDENT'S NAME BEING SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND LOSS OF DRIVING PRIVILEGES. This pertains to those students within the age of 14 to 17 years of age.

When your student is absent from school, you will receive an automated attendance message to alert you that your child was not in school on the same day they are absent. Please be certain your child's emergency card is up-to-date, as the emergency card information supplies the school with the number to call when your child is absent.

Attendance will be taken electronically using Pinnacle (Grade book) by all teachers PERIOD BY PERIOD. Attendance will be entered the first ten minutes of each period, unless there are special mitigating circumstances. Teachers will code absences AU (unexcused) for all classes. If a student turns in a allowable excuse, the absence code will be changed to A (excused) by the Attendance Secretary.

Checkout Policy:

• Criteria: The criteria for checkout shall be the same as for an absence. Any period missed due to a check out will be an unexcused absence until a note is received in the Attendance Office in the timely manner as described above.
• For the safety of the students, a state or federal photo ID is required in order to check students out. The photo ID must match one of the names listed on the Emergency Information Sheet.
• NO CHECK OUTS WILL BE ALLOWED DURING FINAL EXAMS and FCAT testing.