School Attendance/Truancy Plan

2024-2025

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Office of Student Services

Objectives

The Office of Student Services supports student achievement and post-secondary success by fostering compassionate, enriching, and joyful school communities to meet the individual needs of each child throughout their educational journey.

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Core Beliefs

1. All students have worth and should be treated with dignity.
2. All students are unique and should be treated as such.
3. All students want acceptance and should feel a sense of belongingness.
4. All students have dreams and aspirations, and should have the access and opportunity to achieve them regardless of their background.
5. All students need a champion and ecosystems of support to succeed.

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Attendance

• Attendance at school is the most basic requirement for learning. There are 1260 hours of instruction each school year, so missing ten (10) days of school will result in the loss of seventy (70) hours of fun, challenging, and exciting discovery and learning.
• Parents should not bring students late or pick them up early unless it is an emergency.
• When possible, parents should avoid scheduling or arranging activities that require absences during the school day
• The South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC or the Corporation) strongly enforces Indiana's Compulsory School Attendance Law (IC 28-33-2-28) which makes school attendance the responsibility of the parent and the student.
• Any child in the state of Indiana subject to compulsory attendance who during the school calendar year has more than ten (10) days of unexcused absences is considered truant

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Attendance

Excused Absences

Excused absences are defined as absences regarded as legitimate reasons for being out of school. Indiana Code 20-33-2-14 states that a school corporations must excuse absences that prevent a student from attending school for at least 180 days in a year. The code also lists five reasons for an absence to be excused, which include: 

• Illness verified by a parent or guardian's note or phone call
• Illness verified by a doctor's note 
• Family funeral 
• Maternity 
• Military-connected families, such as absences related to deployment or return 

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Attendance

Exempt Absences: Under certain circumstances, schools are authorized to excuse: 

• Service as a page for or honoree of the general assembly 
• Religious observances 
• Working at the polls during an election 
• School-sponsored field trips 
• College visits or job interviews pre-arranged with the Student Services Department 
• Military physicals 
• Court appearances 
• Participating in the state fair 
• Up to 120 minutes per week of religious instruction
• Exigent circumstances at the principal’s discretion

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Parents must provide the appropriate documentation for each excused or exempt absence within three (3) school days of the time of the absence. The school reserves the right to investigate and verify documentation.

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Attendance

Unexcused Absences

An unexcused absence is any absence not covered under the definition of excused or exempt absences outlined above. 

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Tardies and Early Dismissals

Every five (5) tardies and every five (5) early dismissals will count as an unexcused absence.

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Minimum Required Hours

Students must be in school for at least five (5) hours of the school day to be marked as present for the day.

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Parent and Guardian Responsibilities

• Indiana Code 20-33-2-28 (b) states it is unlawful for a parent or guardian to fail, neglect, or refuse to send their child to a public school unless the child is being provided with instruction equivalent to that given in public schools.
• Any person who knowingly violates Indiana Code 20-33-2-28 (b) has committed a Class B misdemeanor, punishable up to 180 days in jail and fine of up to $1000.
• Parents and guardians who knowingly or intentionally deprives their child of an education has committed neglect of a child, which is a Level 6 felony, punishable by up to two and half years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
• Parents and guardians must promptly notify the school office of any change in address, phone number, emergency phone number, child custody, or legal residence. 
• Parents and guardians must keep the school informed as to how they can be reached in case of an emergency.
• Parents and guardians should talk to their children about school every day.
• Parents and guardians are responsible for their child’s welfare and custodial care.

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Attendance Notifications

Attendance Notifications�We send automated Attendance Notifications by text, call, and/ or email to parents or guardians whose children are marked “Absent” at the beginning of each school day. Parents who receive these notifications must make every effort to still get their child to school even if their child is late. You will receive the following notifications;

• Daily automated attendance notifications
• 3rd Unexcused Absence: Letter
• 5th Excused/Unexcused Absence: Letter and Administrator Call
• 5th Excused/Unexcused Absences (in a 10 week period): SAIC Parent Conference
• 8th Excused/Unexcused Absence: Letter
• 10th Excused/Unexcused Absence: Letter and notification sent to the Prosecutor
• 15th Unexcused Absence: Letter of referral to the CASIE Center (K-5) or The Juvenile Justice Center (6-12).�

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Academic Success

Scholars Success

�We are looking forward to working with you and your scholar as we work toward an academically successful school year.

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Our Goals:

1) Get students reading on grade level

2) A 95% attendance rate

3) A 90% graduation rate

We greatly appreciate the value that each and every one of our scholars and families brings to Riley. WE ARE THE PRIDE OF THE SOUTHSIDE! WE ARE #RILEYSTRONG!

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