At Throop Elementary School, we are striving to Promote Partnerships. One of the most important partnerships a school may foster is the partnership with parents and caregivers. We ask that caregivers make it a point to have their students at school as much as possible. We understand that illnesses and circumstances occur that do not allow all students to attend school at all times. However, we are committed to upholding Indiana law in which those special circumstances are addressed. Throop’s attendance policy was approved by the school board in Spring 2015 and is now in effect for the 2015-2016 school year. I would like to encourage all parents to become knowledgeable of the new policy. The policy is as follows:
Attendance:
Students are required to attend all 180 scheduled school days and Indiana law allows few exceptions to this requirement.
Students are expected to complete all class work or other assignments regardless of the reason for their absence in order to stay on pace in their classes. The amount of time allowed to complete work will correspond with the amount of time absent.
Excused absences:
- Personal illness verified by a physician or parent/guardian (see explanation1 below)
- Bereavement/funeral for the death of a family member (see explanation2 below)
- Absence pre-approved by the Principal and allowed by state law (see explanation3 below)
1.Parent verification should be by phone the morning of the absence; Physician written verification should include any school restrictions related to the illness.
2.Funeral/Bereavement – Five (5) successive school days for immediate/household family member; One (1) to two (2) school days for all other relatives, as needed.
3.General assembly page or honoree (verified by a certificate of the secretary of the senate or the chief clerk of the house of representatives); Service on precinct election board or for political candidate or parties on election day (verification prior to election day signed by the candidate, political party chairman, campaign manager, or precinct officer generally describing the duties of the student); Witness in judicial proceeding (submit the subpoena to the appropriate school authority for verification); or, any other school attendance exception allowed by law and approved by the principal.
Documentation of absenteeism shall occur as follows:
Parents shall be expected to notify the school either by calling the school between 7:45 – 9:00 A.M. or writing a note to the teacher following each student absence. Parent and doctors’ notes are to be received within a 48 hour period of the absence. Failure of the parent to notify the school within the 48 hour period of the absence will result in the absence marked unexcused.
Unexcused Absences:
- Overslept/missed the school bus
- Vacation during school time
- Car trouble
- Any other absence not approved by the principal or otherwise not verified
Students with unexcused absences will be allowed to make up all state, local, and classroom assignments prior to or after the unexcused absences. Unexcused absences will result in student receiving a 10% deduction on classroom assignments/assessments.
Pre-Approved Absence: Pre-Approved absences are school days that you know in advance your child will be absent from school. Pre-Approved absence forms are available in the Throop office. Please complete the form, return it to the office, and contact the teacher to inform him/her of the absence and make plans for the missed assignments. The principal will determine the days as excused or unexcused based on the Indiana attendance code.
Except when building administrators identify atypical circumstances, chronic absenteeism will be handled in the following manner, per semester:
- 5th absence – Automated phone call notifying parents of five absences.
- 7th absence – Automated phone call notifying parents of seven absences and that upon the 8th absence, a meeting must be conducted.
- 8th absence – Meeting must be conducted including School Resource Officer, parent(s) and school administration. Meeting notes are forwarded to the Orange County Prosecutor.
- 9th or more absences – School Resource Officer communicates with the Orange County Prosecutor regarding attendance, compulsory attendance law and consideration of charges filed against the parent/guardian.
The following criteria will be used to determine partial day attendance:
- A.M. Absence: Absent from school from 8:20 A.M. through 11:30 A.M.
- P.M. Absence: Absent from school from 11:30 A.M. through 3:00 P.M.
- Tardy: Arrival to the building after 8:15 A.M. and before 9:30 A.M. (Arrival after 9:30 A.M. constitutes a morning half-day absence)
- Early dismissal: Departure from the building after 2:00 P.M. (Departure before 2:00 P.M. constitutes an afternoon half-day absence)
Early dismissal will not be recorded for students leaving with parents after 2:30 P.M. on days with special school events such as field trips, parties, and school assemblies. This will only apply to students involved in those activities.
Students arriving late must be accompanied by an adult to the main office.
Please be mindful that chronic absenteeism is at the discretion of the administration. Excused absences MAY be considered with the total number of days absent if administration deems there is a need for involvement by the Orange County Prosector’s office. If you have any questions regarding the attendance policy please contact Mrs. Crews, Assistant Principal, at Throop Elementary School 812-723-3537.
Throop Elementary School 