Attendance

Daily attendance is essential for academic growth and development.  Regular daily attendance is the responsibility of the parent and student.  Students are expected to comply with Indiana’s Compulsory Attendance statute (IC 30-33-2) which requires students to attend school.  Communication regarding attendance between home and school is essential to student success. 

Reporting

Parents/Guardians are to report the absence of their child to the school on the day of the absence.  In the event of a single absence, a written, verbal, or electronic statement of the cause will be accepted.

Excused Absences

Students are expected to be in school except for the following reasons with documentation:

A. Illness verified by a note from the parent (by phone, written, or electronic communication) *The school reserves the right to verify such statements and to investigate the cause of each in the event of prolonged, repeated, or unexplained absences before excusal.

B. Illness verified by a note from the doctor.

C. Service as a page or honoree of the general assembly

D. Service on a precinct election board or helper to a political candidate on the date of an election

E. Subpoena to appear in court as a witness in a judicial proceeding

F. Exhibiting or participating in the Indiana Fair for educational purposes by a student or member of the student’s household.

G. Participating in an educationally related non-classroom activity which is consistent with and promotes educational philosophy and goals of the School Corporation, facilitates the attainment of specific educational objectives, is part of the goals and objectives of an approved course or curriculum, represents a unique educational opportunity, cannot reasonably occur without interrupting the school day, and is approved in advance by the school principal.

H. Doctor, dentist, counseling appointments (Documented with a note from the doctor, dentist or counselor for an excused absence)

I. Death in the immediate family  

J. Recovery from an accident

K. Required court attendance

L. Major religious holidays and religious instruction provided by a church up to 120 minutes/week per the guidelines in IC 20-33-2-19

M. Required appointments for the citizenship process

N. Military connected family absences related to deployment and return

*The above list of excusals applies to all MSD of Decatur Township Schools. Secondary (middle and high schools) have additional excusals due to the age of students. Full attendance policies for each school can be found in the student handbooks on the school webpages.

Attendance Notifications & Truancy Prevention

Unexcused Absences

An unexcused absence is any absence not covered under the definition of excused absence or an exception to compulsory attendance. An out-of-school suspension shall not be considered an unexcused absence.

Three (3) unexcused absences - teacher will call the parent/guardian and document with office administration; Notification sent via Skyward Family Access

Five (5) unexcused absences within a ten (10) week period - Skyward letter sent; required attendance conference scheduled including a representative of the school, a teacher of the student, and the parent/guardian; Student Attendance Success Plan created at conference

Eight (8) unexcused absences - Skyward letter sent and school administrator will call the parent/guardian

Ten (10) unexcused absences - letter sent from the Superintendent’s office, delivered by Decatur Township School Police; a report will be made to DCS

Fifteen (15) unexcused absences - home visit made by school personnel

Twenty (20) unexcused absences - a report will be made to DCS; Letter sent from the Superintendent’s Office scheduling a meeting with the District Attendance Officer.

**Continued absences may result in a referral to the Marion County Prosecuting Attorney, Juvenile Division

**The district reserves the right to refuse intra-district transfers due to excessive absenteeism

**District administration reserves the right to refuse out of district requests due to excessive absenteeism

Policy updated in accordance with SEA 282.