Dear Parents/Guardians,

We need your help with an important goal for Rhea County this year. We want to ensure that all students attend school every day. Attending school regularly has a significant, positive impact on your child’s academic success—from Kindergarten through High School. Even as he or she grows older and more independent, you play a key role in making sure your child gets to school safely and on time every day.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But we also know that when students miss too much school—regardless of the reason—it can cause them to fall academically behind. Absences can add up quickly. Students are less likely to succeed if they miss 10% or more instructional days over the course of the school year.

Additional Details (Reference RCS Board of Education Attendance Policy 6.200):

1. Late check-ins and early check-outs count as tardies. All must be documented with a medical or dental note to be excused. 5 unexcused tardies = 1 unexcused absence

2. Students have 5 days of excused absences that are not medical or dental related. All notes must be sent to the school within 5 days of returning to class. After 5 days without a note, the absence will become unexcused. These 5 days are sometimes referred to as “Parent Notes.” These are for the days when a student is sick without needing the care of a doctor, or must be out of school for some reason such as traveling out of town, family emergency, etc.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Only 5 parent notes (5 days) are permitted for the entire school year

3. It is always wise to get a medical/dental excuse anytime your child is out of school, and you have seen a licensed professional. A medical excuse, a funeral program or obituary (for a family member’s death), or legal documents from the court, MUST be turned in for the absence to be excused and all documentation must be submitted within five days of the absence.

Rhea County Schools utilizes a Progressive Truancy Plan based on a three-tiered approach. At each tier, there is a different action or support to help families and students who are facing chronic absenteeism.

· Tier 1 applies to all students and includes school-based incentives for good attendance. Parents/guardians of students who accumulate three unexcused absences are contacted via BrightArrow with a reminder of School Rules, District Policies, and State Law.

· Tier 2 begins after a student accrues five unexcused absences. A message via BrightArrow with a reminder of School Rules, District Policies, and State Law is sent.

· When a student reaches eight unexcused absences, a district level meeting is set. Parent/Guardian and student must meet with the Rhea County Truancy-Discipline Board at Central Office on a set date and time. This meeting focuses on the importance of attending school as well as assigning punitive measures (i.e., Saturday School). Local juvenile court services are made available, but not limited to: Juvenile Justice Reform, Department of Children’s Services, and U-Turn Programs. An Attendance Contract is completed by the student and parent/guardian.

· Tier 3 occurs when students accrue ten unexcused absences. RCS partners with Judge Jace Cochran to ensure state laws are followed and parents/guardians are held responsible for their child’s school attendance. Every effort is made to protect our students from abuse or neglectful situations. We need to do what is best for our students and families. A petition to appear in Juvenile Court is issued.