Attendance

To excuse an absence please do one of the following:

Email ELHSattendance@elps.us or call (517) 333-7567 and leave a message with the date, student name and spelling of the student’s name (if you are calling), students grade, and reason he/she was out or going to be leaving. Please leave your name and a way you can be reached.

Or, write a note in your student’s planner on the date of the appointment. Just state the time and reason your child needs to check out and sign.

Students are also allowed to use their cell phones between classes and during lunch. You can text your student with information also.

Attendance Philosophy
Students' regular and punctual attendance is essential for success.  Class attendance is necessary for learning, for social and academic achievement, and for developing such life-long habits as punctuality, dependability, and self-discipline.  Students and families are expected to keep absences to a minimum.  

The purpose of this attendance policy is to help students develop these habits and to maintain academic standards for earning credit.  Each student is an irreplaceable resource, necessary for the interaction that forms an essential part of classroom learning.  When absences occur, the educational experience of all students in class is diminished.  Students are expected to be in school and in class every day.  They should be fully aware that the interactions that occur in the classroom cannot be duplicated and constitute a valid and critical part of the course work.  Attendance is a three-way responsibility among the student, parent, and school.  Working together, we can insure that our students are successful in high school and in their future.  

• ALL absences will count toward the allowable limit with the exemption of school related absences, religious observances and extended medical absences. There is no distinction made between an excused or unexcused absence.
• To earn credit in a course, absences must not exceed nine (9) total absences in each class per semester.  A student with a passing grade with more than nine (9) absences will lose credit in that class.  Students have the opportunity to appeal the loss of credit through the attendance appeals process.
• Skipping and truancy is an absence and a discipline referral.
  
• Without an excused note 15 minutes tardy is counted as an absence in the class. 
• Three tardies to class equal one absence.

• Documentation must be provided to the attendance office for each and absence.
• Documentation is required within 48 hours of the student's return to class.
• Documentation will be kept in the student's attendance file.  This is significant to the appeals process.

Parents are expected to notify the school promptly of extenuating circumstances regarding illness or personal family problems, which may have an effect on attendance.  Every effort should be made to schedule routine appointments after school hours, and family vacations should be planned during the holidays outlined on the school calendar.  Parents should stress the importance of good attendance with their student and avoid supporting any abuse of the Attendance Policy.  

The automated telephone call system will place a call to the student's residence based on absences recorded by the teacher.(Does not distinguish type of absence i.e. may call for school related.)

Attendance Appeal Process
If a student is earning a passing grade in class and has accumulated more than nine (9) absences, the loss of credit applies. Students may appeal the loss of credit by following the attendance appeal process.

• Student and parent document each and every absence within 48 hours of the student's return to class.  This documentation file will be used in hearing the appeal case.
• Student files the Attendance Appeal Form.
• Student and parent/guardian attend the appeals meeting if necessary.

At the time of the appeal, the student's attendance file will be reviewed.  The attendance appeals committee will examine on the following documentation provided within the 48-hour deadline:

• religious observations
• funerals
• doctor/dental appointments
• court dates
• recurring illness/extended illness (already documented on file)
• pre-arranged absences.  

The appeal committee consists of the grade level administrator and two teachers.

• Appeal Granted: credit is awarded.
• Appeal Denied: credit is withheld.
• If credit is withheld a student may earn credit by:

-   Successfully scoring 78% on a comprehensive course exam

- Agree to and fulfill an attendance contract set-up by student, parent, teacher, and administrator

Reviewed by ELHS Faculty - August 30, 2007: Suzanne Rojas, Heather Mueller, Cliff Seybert, Tim Volovsek, Paula Steel