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ATTENDANCE
The process of education requires a regular continuity of instruction, classroom
participation, learning experiences, and study in order to reach the goal of maximum
educational benefits for each individual child. Regular participation in learning activities
under the guidance and instruction of an effective teacher, as well as regular interactions
with peers in the classroom, are essential to the learning process. Education is much more
than written assignments or homework; it also encompasses instruction, formative
assessment, intervention and support, discussion, peer interaction, and collaborative work
that occurs in the classroom. Most of the learning that takes place in a classroom cannot be
replicated or sent home as homework. When a child is not in school, learning opportunities
are lost. This is an established principle of education that underlies and gives purpose to
the statutory requirement of compulsory schooling in this state.
Regular attendance also reflects a student’s dependability and is a significant factor on the
student’s permanent record. Future Employers are as much concerned about punctuality
and dependability as they are about academic record. Regular and punctual attendance
has a significant impact on school success, scholarship, and job opportunities.
Therefore, the intent of the Board of Trustees is to have students attend school on a regular
basis since regular and consistent attendance results in increased learning.
1. Definition of Attendance
a. In accordance with Idaho Administrative (IDAPA) Rule 08.02.01.250.03,
being in attendance means that a student is under the guidance and direction
of a teacher or other authorized school district personnel when school is in
session.
2. Attendance Requirements
a. 90% Attendance Requirement
To be in full compliance with the attendance policy of the Board of Trustees,
students are required to be in attendance at school at least ninety percent
(90%) of the time school is in session during each trimester. At each grade
level, on a trimester schedule, this means:
i. Elementary schools: Not being absent from school more than six (6)
full days or twelve (12) half days in a trimester.
ii. Middle schools and high schools: Not being absent from a class more
than six (6) times in a trimester.
iii. Online and Alternative Schools:Students enrolled in Bonneville Online
or an alternative school should refer to their school's attendance
regulations.
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b. Chronic Absenteeism / Habitual Truancy
Students who meet either of the following conditions will be considered as
being chronically absent / habitually truant and will be subject to additional
corrective actions.
i. Habitual truancy: Having a pattern of absences from school without the
knowledge and permission of parents/guardians, or
ii. Chronic absenteeism: Being in attendance less than 80% of the time
that school is in session.
3. Categories of Student Absences
a. School Approved Activities
The following conditions meet the IDAPA definition for attendance and are
defined as school approved activities that do not count as absences when
determining the ninety percent (90%) attendance requirement.
i. Participation in school services such as:
1. Individual tests by school officials, or
2. Conferences with school or State officials.
ii. School security actions or emergency situations such as:
1. Emergency procedure drills,
2. School evacuations and early dismissals,
3. Late buses, etc.
iii. Participation in school-sponsored activities under the direction of
authorized school personnel, Idaho High School Activities Association
related events, academic field trips, and other school-approved co-
curricular activities.
1. Permission to participate must be obtained in advance from
teachers and/or the principal/designee.
2. Participation in activities sponsored by non-school organizations
shall not be designated as school-excused activities because
they do not meet the IDAPA definition for school attendance.
b. Parent Verified Absences
Absences from class that are taken with the knowledge and permission of the
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parents/guardians of a minor student.
i. Parental permission is not valid when a student misses class and
remains on school grounds unless prior permission has been granted
by the school principal/designee.
ii. Parents / guardians are expected to verify student absences prior to
the absence and must be reported no later than 48 hours after the
student returns to school.
iii. All parent verified absences will count against the ninety percent (90%)
attendance requirement, including absences incurred for any of the
following reasons:
1. Family vacations,
2. Routine doctor, vision, dental or other related appointments,
3. Illness,
a. Students who do not feel well enough to attend school
are encouraged to stay home, especially if they exhibit
symptoms including fevers, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting.
The expectation for students to be in attendance at
school ninety-percent of the time allows for these types of
situations.
b. As explained in the following section, with a doctor’s
order, parent verified absences due to a student
contracting a serious illness or experiencing injury or
hospitalization will not be included when determining
whether a student has excessive absenteeism from
school.
4. Legal obligations,
5. Any travel that is not part of a school-sponsored activity,
c. Bereavement
i. When students are absent from school because of the death of a close
family member or family friend, they will be marked absent from school
using a code to denote bereavement.
ii. While absences due to bereavement cannot be reported as being in
attendance at school; absences for bereavement will not be included
when determining whether a student has excessive absenteeism from
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school.
d. Students with Chronic or Serious Health Conditions
i. Chronic Health Conditions. If students develop a chronic health
condition which prevents them from attending school regularly, the
school principal / designee should arrange to meet with the students’
parents/guardians to develop a plan to support their academic
progress.
1. If the health condition is determined to be a disability, defined as
a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or
more major life activities, then the plan should be developed by
the appropriate 504 or IEP team.
2. If the health condition is not determined to be a disability, the
school principal / designee will work with the parents and
assigned classroom teachers to develop a medical
accommodation plan for the student to support their academic
progress.
3. Plans should include a provision to code absences due to the
student’s health condition as a “Medical absence” that will not
be included when determining whether a student has excessive
absenteeism from school.
ii. Other Serious Health Conditions. When a licensed health
practitioner provides a medical order that prevents a student from
attending school in person due to contracting a contagious illness or
injury or if a student is hospitalized, the absences will be coded as
“Medical absences (MED)” and will not be included when determining
whether a student has excessive absenteeism from school.
iii. Confidentiality of Health Information. School staff, including
teachers, whom the school principal determines have a “legitimate
educational interest” in the information will be informed of the
accommodations identified in the plan; however the confidentiality of
medical information shall be respected at the parent’s/guardian’s
request.
iv. Remote Learning. Students who are able to continue their learning
through online or remote instruction under the direction of their
classroom teacher or teachers will be considered as being present at
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school.
e. Unverified Absences / Truancy
Any absence from school without the knowledge and permission of a minor
student’s parents/guardian shall be designated as an unexcused absence /
truancy.
i. All unverified absences will count against the ninety percent (90%)
attendance requirement.
ii. Any absence from school without the knowledge and permission of
parents/guardians is considered to be a truancy and will be subject to
discipline as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
iii. Discipline for unexcused absences shall follow the guidance provided
in the Code of Student Conduct.
iv. When a student has repeated unexcused absences, the school
principal/designee will hold a conference with the student and their
parent/guardian.
v. Students who continue to be absent from school shall be declared a
habitual truant and further corrective actions shall be taken as
specified in the Corrective Actions section below.
f. Out of School Suspensions
i. Students who are suspended out of school for violating the Code of
Student Conduct are considered absent from school. Out of school
suspensions count against the 90% attendance requirement.
ii. Suspended students will not be counted as truant, and make-up work
will be required.
4. Notifications to Parents
a. Unverified Absences
i. Each school shall implement an automated notification system to
promptly inform parents and legal guardians whenever their student is
absent from school and the absence has not been reported to the
school in advance.
ii. Upon receiving such notice, parents / guardians are responsible to
report the reason for the absence to the school if the student is absent
from school with their permission. Any absence from school without the
knowledge and permission of parents/guardians is considered to be a
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truancy and will be subject to discipline as outlined in the Student Code
of Conduct.
b. Notification of Noncompliance with Attendance Policy
Principals/designees are required to notify parents/legal guardians when
students’ attendance is not in compliance with the provisions of this policy.
i. 6th Absence. Parents/guardians will be notified in writing of the sixth
(6th) absence from one or more classes during a trimester and the
requirement for the student to participate in makeup sessions for
subsequent absences.
ii. 9th Absence. Parents/guardians will be notified in writing of a
student’s ninth (9th) absence from one or more classes during the
trimester. This notification should include a request for the
parents/guardians to meet in person with the school administration.
School principals are also expected to make a good-faith effort to
contact the student’s parents/guardians before taking additional
corrective actions specified below.
1. If possible, principals should attempt to speak to
parents/guardians in a personal phone call.
2. When necessary, principals may contact parents through text
messages or emails. Such messages should include a request
for parents to call the school to discuss the attendance
concerns.
iii. 12th Absence. Parents/guardians will be notified in writing of a
student’s twelfth (12th) absence from one or more classes. This
notification shall include notice of impending disciplinary actions,
including
1. Referrals To Bonneville County Juvenile Probation or other
outside agencies for truancy,
2. Ineligibility for Driver’s Education programs,
3. Requests to the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend
driving privileges,
4. Any changes that will be made to a student’s schedule as a
result of nonattendance.
5. Corrective Actions
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a. Students who fail to meet the 90% attendance requirement will be subject
to corrective actions as outlined below unless one or more of the
following conditions apply:
i. The parents / guardians have provided documentation of a medical
condition that has prevented the student from attending school,
ii. The student has an IDEA plan (IEP), 504 plan, or medical plan that
includes accommodations for absences from school,
iii. The parents / guardians have met with the school administration in
advance to develop a plan for a student to be designated as a self-
directed learner while they are absent from school for an extended
period of time.
b. Less Than 90% Attendance
i. Makeup Time
Students who have more than 6 absences in any class will be required
to attend mandatory makeup time for each subsequent absence. As
directed by the school administration, makeup time may be assigned
during lunch periods or outside of normally scheduled class hours,
including Saturdays.
1. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to ensure their child
attends make-up mandated makeup sessions within the current
trimester.
2. Students are expected to be productive, disciplined, and
focused on the coursework during make-up sessions.
3. The school principal/designee has the responsibility of
designating the time, location, and rules governing make-up
time.
4. If students fail to attend required makeup sessions, they will be
subject to the following additional disciplinary actions:
a. Ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities and
attend after school events . Students will remain ineligible
until they complete the assigned makeup time.
b. Ineligibility for Driver’s Education. As required in Idaho
Code §49-303A, students will not be granted Verification
of Compliance letters to participate in Driver’s Education
programs or to receive their driver’s license if they do not
attend assigned makeup sessions.
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c. Request to Suspend of Driver’s License. Students who
have a driver’s license may be reported to the
Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend their driving
privileges if they repeatedly fail to complete assigned
makeup sessions.
d. In-school Suspension. Students who repeatedly fail to
complete assigned makeup sessions may be assigned to
in-school suspension.
c. Less Than 85% Attendance
In addition to being assigned makeup sessions, the following additional
corrective actions may also be assigned to students who have more than nine
(9) absences in any class.
i. Parent and Student Conferences. School principals / designees should
contact parents/guardians to request a meeting with the student to
1. discuss the reasons for the absences, and
2. to create a plan to improve attendance, and
3. to inform parents of additional actions that will result if the
absenteeism continues.
4. As necessary, classroom teachers and school counselors
should be encouraged to participate in those conferences.
ii. Ineligibility for Driver’s Education. As required in Idaho Code §49-
303A, students will not be granted Verification of Compliance letters to
participate in Driver’s Education courses or to receive their driver’s
license unless the student follows an improvement plan and
demonstrates consistent attendance for at least three consecutive
weeks.
iii. Request to Suspend of Driver’s License. If students who have a
driver’s license have nine (9) or more absences in more than two
classes in a trimester, they may be reported to the Department of
Motor Vehicles to suspend their driving privileges pursuant to Board
Policy 3055 Attendance for Driving Privileges.
d. Chronic Absenteeism (Less Than 80% Attendance) and Habitual
Truancy
i. Ineligibility for Extracurricular Participation. Students who have
incurred more than twelve (12) absences in any class may be deemed
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ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities, including athletics
and performing arts, and will be prohibited from attending after school
activities for the duration of the trimester.
ii. Referral to Juvenile Probation for Truancy. Students who are younger
than 16 shall be reported to Bonneville County Juvenile Probation for
habitual truancy. Prior to referring a student to Juvenile Probation, the
school administration shall notify parents of the pending referral and
request to meet with the parents to create a plan to improve student
attendance.
iii. Request to Suspend of Driver’s License. If students who have a
driver’s license have twelve (12) or more absences in more than one
class in a trimester or a record of habitual truancy, as defined above,
they may be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend
their driving privileges pursuant to Board Policy 3055 Attendance for
Driving Privileges.
iv. Limitations on Makeup Work and Final Grades. Students who have
demonstrated chronic absenteeism or habitual truancy may lose their
opportunity to earn a traditional letter grade in a class. The teacher
shall have the discretion to move chronically absent students to a
pass/fail option for the course and limit makeup work and grading to
only what is necessary to determine if the student has demonstrated
the minimum amount of learning to earn a passing grade in the class.
v. Disenrollment from Class. The school administration may disenroll a
student from a class in which they have been chronically absent or
habitually truant. Prior to disenrolling the student, the school principal
should attempt to arrange a conference with the student’s
parents/guardians to inform them of the reasons for the disenrollment.
1. Students who are disenrolled from a class for being chronically
absent or habitually truant will not receive credit for the class
and will receive an “F” for the class.
2. Principals may make a recommendation to the Board of
Trustees to deny enrollment to a student when they believe the
student’s presence on campus will cause a significant disruption
to the education of other students.
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e. Appeals
Parents/guardians, who believe that all or part of their student’s excessive
absences are the result of extraordinary circumstances, may request a review
of the case following the steps identified in the Board Policy 4110 Public
Complaints and its associated procedure as briefly outlined below:
i. Level 1: Appeals will be made to the school principal first.
ii. Level 2: If a satisfactory resolution is not reached with the school
principal / designee, then the decision may be appealed to the
Superintendent / designee.
iii. Level 3: If a satisfactory resolution is not reached with the
superintendent / designee, then an informal hearing with the School
Board may be requested to appeal the decision.
6. Responsibility to Report Absences
a. Parents and Legal Guardians. Parents or legal guardians of minor students
are responsible to verify each absence from school by reporting the reason
for absence to the school administrative staff within 48 hours of the time when
the student was absent from class.
b. Adult-aged and Emancipated Minor Students. Students who are not under the
legal guardianship of a parent or guardian assume the responsibility for
verifying the reason for their absences from school.
7. Make-up Work
a. Pursuant to guidelines set forth in District policy #2635 Make-up Work,
students are expected to make up any assignments missed (for credit) due to
an excused absence.
DEFINITIONS
School Approved Activity (ACT): Activities under the guidance and direction of a teacher
or other authorized school district personnel while school is in session that take students
away from the regular classroom. School approved activities are not counted as absences.
Parent Verified Absence (EXC): Any absence from school with the knowledge and
permission of a student’s parent/guardian. Such absences are counted toward the
maximum number of absences allowed per trimester. To verify an absence, the student’s
parent/guardian must provide a written or verbal verification within forty-eight (48) hours of
the last day of the absence. Parental permission is not valid when a student misses class
and remains on school grounds.
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Chronic Absenteeism: Failing to attend school at least 80% of the time that school is in
session, including any child whose parents/guardians have failed or refused to cause such
child to be instructed as provided in Idaho Code 33-202.
In-School Suspension: (ISS As a disciplinary measure, students are not permitted to
attend their regular class schedule and are remanded to a location under the supervision of
an assigned school employee. Students assigned to in-school suspension are considered
present in school for attendance purposes and are expected to complete all work assigned
to them during the suspension.
Late Verified Absences: absences verified by parents/guardians after the forty-eight (48)
hour deadline has expired.
Licensed Health Practitioner: An individual who is licensed in the State of Idaho to
practice health care and legally prescribe medical treatments.
Out of School Suspension: (OSS) Involuntary removal from school. A family member at
home supervises the student. Suspended students will not be counted as being absent
from school and make-up work will be required.
Unverified Absences / Truancy: Any absence from school that has not been verified by
the parents / guardians of a minor student to have been taken with their knowledge and
permission.
Adopted: 06-09-1993 Reviewed: Revised: 01-01-2001
03-08-2006
06-08-2016
03-13-2019
09-09-2020
01-10-2024
Cross-Reference: Make-up Work #2635
Attendance for Driving Privileges #3055
Student Detention #3350
Student Suspension #3355
Student Expulsion or Denial of Enrollment #3360
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District Code of Student Conduct
Legal Reference: Idaho Code 33-202 School attendance compulsory
Idaho Code 33-206 Habitual truant defined
Idaho Code 33-207 Proceedings against parents or guardians
Idaho Code 33-506 Organization and government of board of trustees Idaho Code
33-512 Governance of school